Inherently Given(2/3)

Tue Dec 24 1996
See part one for disclaimers.

Inherently Given.

by Michelle Hiley and Vickie Moseley.
fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk, vmoseley@fgi.net

Part Ten. Sweetheart, I Don't Think That's Reindeer On The Rooftop.

A safe house in New Hampshire.
Christmas Eve/Christmas Day 1996.
Midnight.

It was so sweet, their first time together as lovers. A time for
exploring and discovery, and tender whispers in the moonlit room.
Passion flared and was fed by their love, and finally, in exhausted
bliss, they slept, their first night of many in each other's arms. It
was the perfect Christmas present to each other. But other forces were
about to intrude.

*****

Outside the safe house perimeter.
Christmas Day.
3:45 am.

Byers peered out through the night vision goggles at the small, cosy
little house. In the distance, creeping near the garbage cans, a little
man hurried to grab a white plastic bag out of one of the cans, and in a
crouch ran back towards the wooden fence.

"He's got something," Byers whispered to his left, the words appearing
as frozen clouds in the early morning air. Langly nodded, adjusting the
directional microphone towards the house. "How's it going? Hear anything
yet?"

"The dog is walking around. I'm picking up snoring in the room to the
north and some sheets rustling in the room to the south. Don't think
they're sleeping in separate rooms, do you?" Langly asked his companion,
perplexed. At that moment, Frohike hiked himself over the fence and
landed rather gracefully next to the two men.

"Eureka! Check this out," he exclaimed excitedly as he dug through the
white kitchen garbage bag. "Look, empty sunflower seed bags. That proves
Mulder's there," he said, satisfied.

Byers was rummaging in the contents as well. "And empty raisinette bags.
Scully's with him. Besides, she would never leave that darn pooch. She's
there, all right." He continued to poke through the bag. "But no
evidence of, ah, a physical relationship, fellows. Are you sure you saw
'condoms' on that list?" he asked Frohike.

"Of course I'm sure," the little man said indignantly. "It's not a word
I would confuse with any other. And it was in Mulder's handwriting," he
added forcefully. "Ah, sweet Dana, if you'd only waited a little
longer," he muttered towards the house. His companions exchanged
exasperated looks and shook their heads.

"Now is not the time for jealousy, old friend," Byers said kindly,
patting his co-conspirator on the shoulder. "If they're in hiding,
they're in danger. And we're here to help, however we can." He went down
to the bag again. "An empty prescription bottle. Those 'Natalins'
things. And lots of empty antacid wrappers. Scully must have morning
sickness pretty bad. Poor thing," he added woefully.

"You know, I've been thinking. I know why they got the condoms," Langly
announced to the other two. They looked at him expectantly. "If a woman
has a yeast infection, she can pass it to her sexual partner during
intercourse. He, in turn, can pass it back to her. It becomes a vicious
cycle. And women are more likely to get yeast infections during
pregnancy. And a good way to break the cycle is abstinence, or
prophylactics."

"Mulder! That sex fiend! Can't even let her off the hook long enough to
get better," Frohike spat out. Langly just gave him a disgusted glare.

"Where did you find this?" Byers asked, truly amazed.

"'Redbook', August 1995," Langly answered.

Byers shook his head and smiled.

*****

Inside the safe house.
Christmas Day.
4:15 am.

The rapid scratching at her bedroom door woke Maggie. She stretched and
crawled out of bed, slipping into her robe and house slippers. The house
was quiet and she smiled down at Clyde. "C'mon, mutt. I'll let you out.
You better not have messed up any of those packages under the tree, or
we'll be having 'Pomeranian a la Maggie' for supper," she chided good
naturedly. She walked him to the back door of the house and let him out.
It was then that she noticed the rather beat up Volkswagen Vanagon
parked about a quarter of a mile away.

Curiosity overtook her and she scanned the privacy fence, the full
moon's light and the thin covering of snow helping her. There, directly
across the large backyard rose garden, she could just make out three
figures crouched behind the fence.

Fear clutched at her and she called Clyde back in, running to the other
bedrooms. She knocked on Fox's door, only to have it swing open and
reveal an empty bed. Frowning, she thought for a moment, then a smile
formed on her lips, despite the fear she still felt. She hurried across
the hall to Dana's room and knocked. In a moment, Dana was standing at
the door in her robe, trying to hide the interior of the room.

"Hi, Mom. Is it Christmas already?" Dana asked, a bit nervously.

"Sweetheart, I have to wake up Fox, there's someone outside the fence,"
Maggie said, pushing her daughter aside and coming into the room. She
made her way over to the bed and shook Mulder's shoulder. "Fox, we've
got company." Then, hurrying past her startled daughter, she added
"Dana, get some clothes on," and left the room.

Mulder rolled over and grabbed his jeans from the floor. "Well, so much
for breaking it to your mom gently," he sighed and went to his room,
returning with his service weapon.

Dana had pulled on her sweats and was standing with her own gun. "Just
where do you think you're going?" she hissed at him when she saw his gun
and the determined look in his eyes.

"You're gonna need back up, sweetheart," he smiled, and waved her in
front. He knew she would never let him lead, but even she couldn't deny
she would need someone watching her back.

She smiled back at him. "Just so long as you remember who's in charge,"
she warned, and laughed softly at his mock salute.

As they slowly made their way into the kitchen, Mulder looked out of the
window and saw the van. Recognition was immediate. "Dana," he said,
putting a hand on her shoulder. "I know who's here."

She turned and then peeked out of the window as well. She let out a
disgusted huff. "What the hell....?"

"The boys are here, Mommy. Can I go out and play?" Mulder asked in his
best seven year old voice. He looked at Dana, who only shook her head
and went to put up her gun. Mulder grabbed his jacket and started out
the door, ignoring Maggie's protests.

"Mom, it's all right. We know them. They're harmless, relatively
speaking," Dana assured Maggie. "But I'm guessing they've been out there
a while. I'd better put on some coffee, and throw some bagels in the
microwave to thaw."

Mulder strolled leisurely across the frozen garden to come up next to
the fence. "Good Morning, boys. Cold enough for ya?" he asked
cheerfully.

The three men stood up and smiled sheepishly. "Hi Mulder," they said in
unison.

"Well, don't just stand there. Come around the front and I'll let you
in," he chided, and returned to the house. In a minute he was opening
the front door, and ushering the Lone Gunmen into the hall. "Here, give
me your coats. Dana and Maggie are in the kitchen. Oh, and I should warn
you, you'd better be on your best behavior. Dana's trigger finger is
itchy this morning," he added with a grin.

The three men entered the kitchen, looking contrite. "Merry Christmas,
Agent Scully," Frohike muttered as he accepted a cup of coffee. Dana
smiled indulgently at him.

"Well, I might as well make the introductions. Byers, Langly, Frohike,
this is Margaret Scully, Dana's Mom. Mom, er, Mrs. Scully, these are the
Lone Gunmen," Mulder said, sitting heavily in one of the chairs. He was
sounding a little winded to Dana and she hovered close, handing him a
cup of peppermint tea. He smiled weakly and accepted it.

"The Lone Rangers?" Maggie asked, not certain she understood what was
being said.

"Lone *Gunmen*, ma'am," Byers corrected. "As in the Lone Gunman on the
grassy knoll, you know at the Kennedy assassination?"

Maggie regarded them skeptically from behind her coffee cup. "Oh. Of
course. How silly of me," she said without much conviction. "Well, I'd
better get dressed." She didn't let her eyes leave the trio as she left
the room.

Scully sat down next to Mulder who was turning a light green shade. "Too
much excitement, wasn't it?" she asked softly, and brushed the hair off
his forehead with affection. He nodded. "Want a bagel?" He shook his
head vigorously. "Some dry toast?" she suggested. He shrugged and she
got up to make it.

This exchange was too much for Frohike. "Mulder, you slimeball!" he
cried in disgust. "Agent Scully, you just stay put. You need your rest,
in your condition. I'll make the creep his toast!" and he jumped up to
start throwing bread into the toaster on the counter.

The two agents watched him for a moment, then noticed the staring eyes
of the other two men in the room. Even though he really didn't feel that
well, Mulder could not stop the bubble of laughter that escaped his
throat. That sent Scully over the edge as well, and soon they were both
all but rolling on the floor with laughter.

"I don't see the humor in this situation!" Frohike exploded. "You knock
the poor woman up, make her go into hiding...."

Mulder held up his hand, and tried to get under control. "Wait a minute,
Frohike. You need to revise that statement. *I* didn't 'knock' anybody
up. I'm the one who got 'knocked'! And it's Scully's fault. So just get
off your high horse, and I'll accept your apology."

"Me!?!" Scully cried, with giggles threatening to engulf her again. "I
was unconscious the whole time. I'm just as innocent as you are!" she
accused, and when she noticed the startled looks of the others at the
table she collapsed into uncontrollable laughter once again.

"What do you think?" Langly asked, never taking his eyes off the two
hysterical agents.

"Nerve gas?" Byers suggested.

"Hypnosis can produce this kind of hysteria," Langly countered.

"Then what was the suggestive word?" Byers argued.

"Possibly 'knock'?" Langly suggested.

"Wait a minute! You two just settle down and start explaining," Frohike
demanded of the agents.

Just then, Maggie walked in. Calmly, she went over and poured herself a
second cup of coffee. "It's very simple, gentlemen,......Gunmen,.......
whatever. Fox is pregnant and the baby is Dana's. I'll be a grandmother
again next summer." She smiled and leaned back against the counter,
sipping her coffee.

It took quite a bit of explaining, but finally, Byers, Langly and even
Frohike accepted the fact that indeed, their long time friend and
subscriber, Fox Mulder, was pregnant. And his partner, the ever lovely
and enigmatic Agent Dana Scully, was the father,....ah,....mother,......
...whatever.

"Are you sure he's going to be all right?" Langly asked, circling Mulder
like he might examine the core of a nuclear reactor.

"He's fine," Dana assured him. "We are monitoring this very closely.
Skinner has an OB who is into research. He's been flying up each week
for checkups. We are leaving nothing to chance."

"He was looking pretty green a while ago," Frohike pointed out.

"Morning sickness," Mulder explained glumly. "It's the pits. Doc Robert
says it will go away in a couple of weeks, at the end of the first
trimester."

"Mulder," Byers said, getting his friend's attention. "I don't want to
bring up a sore subject here, but.....aren't you freaked?"

"Well, between the synthetic hormones and the psychological
ramifications..." Mulder said clinically, then stopped and let his eyes
fall on Scully. They locked gazes for a moment and everything else on
the planet lost meaning. Then, coming back to the present, Mulder
continued, his throat husky. "I wouldn't miss this for the world."

"So, when's the big day?" Frohike asked, trying very hard to hide any
resentment he might be feeling.

"They haven't really talked much about that," Maggie interjected.

"Actually, Mom, we were going to tell you sometime today, and now is as
good a time as any," Dana said, and took Fox's hand in her own. "Last
night I asked Fox to marry me. And he said yes." Dana's heart leaped as
she saw her mother break into tears of joy and rush over to hug them
both.

"Thank you," she murmured, kissing them both in turn. "Thank you so
much. You've made my Christmas, and many Christmases in the future, too.
I couldn't be happier!"

Byers cleared his throat. "I hate to mention this, but I assume you're
in hiding for a reason?"

"We still don't know who did this to me. Or what they might want. And we
don't want the publicity, if you can understand," Mulder added,
searching the three faces with a pleading expression on his face. "I'd
hate to have this be the cover story on the June issue of LGM."

The three looked at each other. They had a magazine to run. They had
subscriptions to worry about. This was very possibly the news story of
the century. But without words, they reached agreement.

"It won't be. On one condition," Frohike said, drawing himself up to his
full height.

Scully winced and Mulder shrugged. "What condition?" he asked.

The little man smiled broadly. "That I get to be your Maid of Honor."

End part ten.

<Footnote: Redbook is a women's magazine.>

From fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk Mon Jan 06 05:45:08 1997
See part one for disclaimers.

Inherently Given.

by Vickie Moseley and Michelle Hiley.
vmoseley@fgi.net, fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk

Part Eleven. Here Comes The.....Bride?

"Ouch!"

"Sorry. But if you didn't keep shifting, I wouldn't have caught you with
the pin." Scully adjusted Mulder's clothes again. "There you go."

"I don't see why I had to get dressed up for this wedding anyway,"
Mulder groused.

"Fox, it's *our* wedding. I'm making an effort too you know."

"I know, Scully, I just feel so. . ."

"Mulder, come on. We've been through this. We flipped a coin and you
lost. Now, get in the damned outfit and let's get the show on the road!
I have to get ready as well. I'll see you there." With that she stamped
out of the room, leaving Mulder frowning after her.

Her words had been more than a little angry, and they hurt. What was
happening? Did she feel like she was forced into this wedding? His mind
reeled. It wasn't his fault. He didn't *ask* to get pregnant. But then,
it wasn't really her fault, either. She sure didn't ask to be the
father. OK, so whose fault was it?!? <Oh, yeah, that son of a bitch with
the Morleys.> He was sure of it, even if that part was more or less
foggy in his memory. He wondered if that black lunged bastard had done
it deliberately, to humiliate him. Probably. Reluctantly, he finished
putting on the clothes she had laid out on the bed. It was going to be a
long day.

He was adjusting his sleeves a few minutes later, when there was a soft
knock on the door. "Fox, it's me. Are you decent?"

"Yeah, Mom. Come on in." His mother walked into the room and caught her
breath. A moment later her face lit up in a tremendous smile.

"You look so....," she stopped and wiped a tear away. "Oh, sweetheart,
if only your father could see you now....." She grabbed her son and let
the tears flow onto his shoulder.

Mulder silently thanked any gods that were listening that his father
couldn't see him now. At least he hoped not. He missed his father, but
he was glad he hadn't had to explain to William Mulder just how his
grandchild was coming into the world.

"Mom, I don't think this is a good idea. Scully says this material shows
water spots." He struggled to reach over on the night stand and hand his
mother a tissue. She took it and wiped her face, regaining her
composure.

"Of course. It's just.....I've always dreamed of this day. It's just how
I always imagined it would be." She sobbed quietly, but her eyes showed
her joy.

Fox looked askance at her, but let that pass. "Well, I'm glad I could
finally make you happy, Mom," he sighed. "Now, could you help me with
this veil?"

*****

He was finally dressed and walked out into the hallway. <How did so many
people get here?> he wondered. The house was a good size, but there had
to be over a hundred people crammed into the living room. There was
Henderson, from graphology, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. And
Pendrell. <Poor guy looks suitably jealous,> Mulder noted wryly.
Skinner, over in the corner, nodded to him. Mulder nodded back and
continued to scan the room, catching sight of a familiar and unwelcome
profile. <Ohmigod! What's Tom Colton doing here! I didn't invite that
little bastard! Dana, what were you thinking?> he fumed. Well, at least
he'd get the satisfaction of marrying Dana in front of Colton. Pendrell
he felt sorry for, but Colton had tried to take Dana away from him.
<Looks like she's really going to be Mrs Spooky now, huh Tom?>

"How are you feeling?" he heard a familiar voice ask. "All set?"

Frohike. He knew that voice anywhere. "Glad you guys finally decided to
show up," he said, starting to turn around. "I was getting...." He
stopped short at the sight that greeted him.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," replied Byers.

"After all, we are in attendance," Langly added, bending his head so
Frohike could adjust the flowers in his hair.

Mulder's world spun. He wasn't seeing this. Before him stood the Gunmen,
in matching yellow satin gowns and floral headdresses. Byers and Langly
just looked strange, but at the sight of his good friend Frohike,
standing in a yellow satin gown, with ruffled sleeves and a pleasantly
(on anyone else) seductive neckline.....Mulder screamed.

"Mulder! Mulder, wake up. It was just a dream, love. Just a dream.
Shush! It's OK. You're safe."

Dana was holding him, rocking him, wiping the sweat soaked hair off his
forehead. "Oh, sweetheart, that one must have been horrible," she
murmured. "I've never seen you look so frightened. You woke me up with
your screams. What was it? Sam's abduction?"

He shook his head fighting to control his own breathing. At last, he
felt he could trust himself to speak.

"No, not Sam. Not this time. Dana, I love you, and I want us to be
together. But we *have* to talk about this wedding. I want to know
exactly what's being planned. Right now, please."

"Now? It's two in the morning! Can't it wait?"

"Now. Please Dana." He looked at her sorrowfully.

She sighed. "You're pregnant. I'll indulge you. OK, I was thinking of an
ivory satin gown..."

"For you, right?"

She looked puzzled. "Well yes, I was thinking blue for the bridesmaids.
I thought I'd wear ivory. Is that OK?"

He hugged her. "You'll look beautiful. And who are your bridesmaids
again?"

"My friends Kathy and Ellen. Remember? Mulder, are you sure you're all
right?"

"I'm just fine now. Now, could you let me see the guest list....?"

End part eleven.

From fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk Mon Jan 06 05:46:12 1997
See part one for disclaimers.

Inherently Given.

by Michelle Hiley and Vickie Moseley.
fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk, vmoseley@fgi.net

Part Twelve. To Have And To Hold.

The safe house.
Saturday January 25th 1997.
2.00 pm.

Fox Mulder finished tying his tie and looked at himself critically in
the mirror. Three months of pregnancy hadn't yet made too much impact on
his figure he decided. He'd gained a little weight around his stomach,
but he'd always been lean, and the spare tyre hardly showed. He put on
his jacket and pinned the white carnation in place. Ready. He hoped Dana
would be pleased with the way he looked. He'd been conventional, even
down to the plain tie, to please her, though she'd told him to dress as
he wanted. In a way he liked it, the simplicity had an elegance. He
hoped he looked reasonably smart, even though he knew all eyes would be
on her. He'd become more concerned with his appearance once he'd become
pregnant, probably because of his terror that she would find him
revolting. Now he assured himself that he looked tidy, and turned as he
heard the bedroom door open.

His best man bustled in, himself neatly dressed in an outfit almost
identical to Mulder's. "Ready? I just checked with Mrs Scully, Dana's
nearly dressed. We ought to be going, to get there on time ahead of
her."

"Ready." Mulder followed Byers down to the waiting car, being careful
not to trip on the stairs. He'd only known about the baby for about a
month, but he instinctively found himself being cautious not to fall. He
had a responsibility to Scully's child. He and Byers climbed into the
car and set off for the small church Margaret and Dana had found. For
all her scepticism, Dana had wanted some kind of blessing on their
union, and Mulder hadn't minded. The priest had had the situation
explained to him, under the promise of secrecy, but after his initial
shock, he'd agreed to marry them. God, he'd told Mulder, moved in
mysterious ways sometimes, and they certainly wouldn't be the first
couple he'd married with a baby already on the way. Even though he
had little time for religion, Mulder had liked the man. Now he saw him
waiting for them at the door of the pretty grey stone church, just
inside out of deference to the snow that still blanketed the churchyard.

"Good afternoon. Come inside, both of you, it's too cold a day to spend
out here." He led them both inside, and then surprised Mulder by shaking
his hand warmly. "It is good to see you. This is your best man?"

Byers was duly introduced and politely shook hands, seemingly relaxed
and at ease. He addressed the priest. "Father, I sent the witnesses on
ahead of me. Have they arrived yet?"

A slight grimace passed over the priest's face. "Oh my, yes. That would
be the short gentleman, and the gentleman with the long blond hair? They
got here about twenty minutes ago. Last time I saw them, they were in
the vestry, scanning it with some kind of electronic equipment."

Byers sighed. "I told them it wasn't really necessary. I ran a check on
this church and you beforehand. Sorry to hear about that appendix
problem two years ago, Father." He turned to Mulder. "I'd better go take
them in hand. Can you manage without me for a few minutes? Maybe greet
your guests?" He strode off into the church, leaving Mulder with the
open mouthed priest. Mulder smiled.

"If you'll excuse me, Father? I'd better go and say hello, and then take
my place at the front." He strolled off as nonchalantly as he could
manage.

Father Andrew sighed, and positioned himself at the door again to await
the bride. Witnesses that scanned his vestry. A best man who knew his
entire medical history. A pregnant groom. He wondered if the bride was
normal. If so, he had a sneaking suspicion she was in for a rough ride.
Maybe he should preach his sermon from the book of Job, rather than
using the wedding feast at Cana.

Mulder stood quietly at the back of the church for a moment, and let his
eyes scan the guests. There weren't many, they'd wanted to keep it
quiet, and not all of those they'd invited knew the full story. His
mother was there, with his uncle and a cousin. Danny had shown, along
with Martin, one of Fox's school friends, and the two men had obviously
introduced themselves and were chatting amiably. On Scully's side there
was no family, her brothers and their families hadn't been able to
attend. Margaret would sit there, but she wasn't here yet, probably
still fussing with Dana's dress. Dana's old professor had come along
though, and Mulder nodded to him, not having seen him since New Jersey.
Beside him sat one of Dana's female Bureau friends, and behind them sat
Dana's godson Trent, and his father, having been sent on ahead by Ellen,
Trent's mother. And that was it, apart from the attendants. No official
Bureau presence, since Skinner would be attending in a private capacity.
And definitely no Colton. Mulder smiled to himself.

His reverie was interrupted by complaining voices, as Byers marched
Langly and Frohike out of the vestry. At the sight of him standing there
alone, Langly and Frohike forgot their arguments and hurried up to him.

"Mulder! How are you feeling?" Langly looked at him quizzically.
"Scully not here yet?"

Byers patted Mulder on the shoulder. "She will be. She isn't due to
arrive for another ten minutes. Best get up to the front."

Frohike smirked then sighed regretfully. "I'll bet she looks good.
You're one lucky man Mulder. I envy you tonight."

Langly meanwhile was looking suspiciously at poor Father Andrew, who was
staring out of the door, trying to ignore what was going on. "Yeah, but
I still think she ought to be here by now." He patted Mulder's other
shoulder. "Don't you worry, nobody runs off and leaves a friend of ours
pregnant. If she makes a run for it, we'll find her and make her do the
honourable thing. No way she's going to dodge her responsibilities."

"Agent Scully wouldn't do that!" Frohike protested.

"You'd be surprised," Langly argued. "Impending parenthood can be a
frightening prospect. And we know she's already had her fun with our
friend here at Christmas." He ignored the incredulous look he got from
Mulder, Frohike's sorrowful glance at being reminded, and the warning
glare from Byers. "She might decide Mulder was a bit of fun while it
lasted, but she isn't ready to settle down. Happens a lot. You can't
trust them, they'll use you and then clear off and let you face the
music alone." He patted Mulder again. "I'm just trying to help."

Byers cleared his throat. "I don't think he needs that kind of help,
Langly."

Langly looked worried. Mulder smiled "It's OK, Langly. Thanks for the
warning, but I think she'll show. She'll not let me down."

"Of course not!" blustered Frohike.

Father Andrew interrupted. "Excuse me, but the bride just got out of the
car. Would you please take your positions?"

Langly beamed. "Looks like I was wrong. Come on!" He and Frohike started
up the aisle. Byers and Mulder exchanged amused looks and followed.

Scully adjusted the veil again and waited while her mother hurried into
the church to take her seat. Behind her Kathy and Ellen, her attendants,
straightened her dress and then their own and took their positions.
Smiling Dana looked up at Walter Skinner, standing handsome in his best
suit beside her.

"Sir...thank you again for giving me away."

Skinner smiled down at her. He'd never admit it openly, but he'd always
had a soft spot for this woman. She was one of his best agents, and
easily his favourite. He'd respected her for a long time, mourned with
Mulder when she had been dying, rejoiced when she'd made her recovery.
He knew working with Mulder couldn't be easy, and he appreciated the way
she kept his errant agent in line. Most of the time anyway. He had felt
sorry for them both when they'd discovered Mulder's pregnancy, and he
was happy they seemed to have turned it to their advantage. He'd known
for a long time how fond they were of each other, and he wasn't too
surprised when they called and told him of their wedding plans. But he'd
been surprised, and then touched, when Dana had asked him to give her
away, in the absence of her father and brothers. Now he offered her his
arm, and they walked carefully to the church door where the priest
awaited them.

The congregation turned as the music began and the bridal procession
walked slowly up the aisle. Mulder's breath caught as Scully stopped
beside him and the priest turned to face them. She looked so beautiful
and delicate in that gown, as if a gust of wind might blow her away.
Lifting her veil, he longed to reach out and kiss her, but he knew he'd
better wait. Suddenly he realised the priest had begun talking, and
hastily turned his attention to the service after giving his bride a
reassuring grin. Time enough to tell her later how lovely she looked.
Scully smiled briefly at Mulder as he lifted her veil. He looked
gorgeous in that suit, and she figured he'd worn it partly to please
her. Time enough to tell him later how handsome he looked.

*****

The service over, the congregation tarried a few moments in the cold
churchyard for some photographs, before Maggie swept them all off into a
local hall she had hired for the occasion. A buffet had been laid out
awaiting them, and when the photographer was finally finished, bride and
groom began doing the rounds of their guests. A while later Maggie came
across her daughter, glass of wine in hand, skulking behind a curtain.

"Dana? Is anything wrong?"

Dana sighed. "No mom, just sneaking a drink."

"Why sneaking? It is your wedding day."

"Yes, but I feel bad for Mulder. He's got to avoid alcohol, so I try not
to drink in front of him. Besides, several people out there think that
I'm pregnant."

Maggie nodded. "Fox told me. He said you'd thought it best to tell
certain people that. When are they going to know the truth?"

"Possibly never, Mom. And in the meantime, it would look suspicious if
I, a doctor, were drinking during pregnancy. So I hid." She caught her
mother's eye and they both began to laugh. "Anyway, now that I've had my
wine, I guess I'd better go keep Fox company. Have you seen him?"

Maggie nodded. "He's talking with his mother."

Mrs Mulder sat straight in her chair, her eye fixed firmly on her errant
son as Dana approached. Ill health might have made her weak, but she was
still able to tell her son a thing or two.

"And in my day," Dana heard, "a man respected a woman. He waited until
she had that ring on her finger. Getting someone in a family way without
marrying them first indeed!"

Mulder realised suddenly that his new wife had joined them. This he
couldn't resist. He put on his best remorseful expression.

"Mom, you're right. Only the worst kind of heel takes advantage like
that." Beside him he heard Dana's strangled gasp of protest. "Still, at
least in this case someone did the decent thing, huh? Even if it was a
little late."

"I suppose." For a moment his mother's expression softened. "You made
such a lovely couple. I'll look forward to my grandchild."

"Thank you," Dana said, smiling at her mother-in-law. "Will you excuse
us? I have to talk to Fox a moment." She steered Fox away as his mother
turned and began talking to his uncle. At a safe distance she grabbed
his arm and pushed him against a wall, out of sight of their guests.

"Dana! Can't you even wait until tonight?" He smirked at her. "We still
have guests, you know."

"Fox Mulder, if you weren't pregnant, I'd cripple you. What do you mean
by doing that to me in front of your mother?"

"What?" He grinned. "She blames me!"

Scully opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the sound of
the music starting up. Instead she grabbed Fox by his wrists and pulled
him towards the dance floor.

"Come on. We have to start the dancing."

"In front of all these people?"

"Think of it as penance."

A ripple of applause greeted their appearance as they sank gently into
each other's arms for the dance. Scully put her head against Mulder's
chest as he burrowed his face into her hair, both only half listening to
the soft hypnotic song Langly had plucked out at random.

...."Under a blackened sky, far beyond the glaring streetlights,
sleeping on empty dreams the vultures lie in wait....."

Mulder frowned slightly and looked down at his new wife. "I'm not sure
Langly appreciated the lyrics to this. Want me to change it?"

She shook her head and snuggled against him again. "No. I like the beat.
And I'm not going to let those vultures part us again." She slowly
traced his jawline with her finger.

...."You lay down beside me then, you were with me every waking hour, so
close I could feel your breath....."

Mulder sighed and held her close. He had endured so much to reach this
moment. He could so easily have lost her, so many times. He silently
thanked Fate.

...."When all we wanted was the dream, to have and to hold that precious
little thing, like every generation yields the newborn hope unjaded by
the years...."

Scully's hand rested softly on her husband's stomach and their eyes met.
"Guess this wasn't such a bad choice, huh Mulder?"

"I guess not." He closed his eyes again as the song played on.

...."And there is a love that's inherently given......"

They danced on, only vaguely aware when other couples joined them,
wrapped up in their feelings for each other and the child they were
expecting, pausing only occasionally at Dana's insistence to sit down
("Mulder, you need to relax occasionally. And people will wonder why I
don't."). The arrival of the car at eleven pm to take them back to the
safe house surprised them both. Maggie, who was returning home for a
while, hugged them both as they left.

"Take care of each other." She pushed a package into Dana's hands. "A
final present."

They each hugged her. "Thanks Mom. But you've already given us a
present!" Dana said.

Margaret smiled. "Let me indulge you."

"Thanks Mom," Mulder said shyly. "That is..if it's OK for me to call you
that?"

"Of course. Now go home, the pair of you. I'll be back in two months, to
stay for a while, OK?" She looked at them anxiously. "Unless you'd
rather I didn't?"

Mulder kissed her, while Dana squeezed her hand. "There's nobody we want
around more than you," Fox told her. "We'll see you then." He took
Dana's hand and led her to the waiting car. Maggie watched it drive away
and went back inside bursting with joy, to supervise the clearing away.

In the car, Scully had her arms around her husband, and her head
snuggled against him. Curled around each other, they drove through the
still night towards the safe house, and bed.

End part twelve.

<Footnote: the song playing is "Wait" by Sarah McLachlan, used without
permission, no infringement intended.>

From fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk Mon Jan 06 05:47:18 1997
See part one for disclaimers.

Warning: Although they are not explicitly described, this part contains
scenes of consenting sex.

Inherently Given.
by Vickie Moseley and Michelle Hiley.
vmoseley@fgi.net, fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk

Part Thirteen: Fireworks And Candlelight.

The safe house.
January 26th 1997.
11:45 pm.

"I could use a drink," Fox Mulder said with a sigh as he ushered his new
bride out of the hire car. Nodding his thanks to the driver, he turned
and unlocked the door of the house.

"Nothing...."

"Alcoholic," he finished for her with a grim nod.

Dana Scully smiled indulgently. "Actually, I was going to say 'with
caffeine'. I know you wouldn't get *that* kind of drink." She paused
just before she crossed the threshold, studying Mulder's face. She knew
he wanted to carry her over, but in his condition he couldn't. Smiling
demurely she offered him her hand, and his face brightened as he helped
her step carefully into the house. Taking off her warm coat, she hung it
on the coat tree, wanting to be free of the weight of clothes she had
been wearing all day. Twisting her arms behind her, she tried to loosen
her long gown.

"Hey, could you give me a hand?" she asked. Mulder turned from hanging
up his own coat and looked at his new wife. She had her arms twisted
over her head, trying unsuccessfully to undo the 25 satin covered
buttons that ran the length of her back.

He smiled and nodded. "I've been meaning to ask about these," he said,
indicating the buttons. "I couldn't help but notice there were *so many*
of them. Any special significance?"

"I don't think so," Dana replied thoughtfully. "I mean, they look, well,
'fancy'. Wedding gowns often have lots of buttons. Why?"

"Seems sort of like stopping the action before it even starts," he
observed and was rewarded with a soft chuckle. He leaned down and kissed
the back of her neck. "Have I told you how beautiful you looked today?"

"Remind me to always get dresses with lots of buttons," she murmured,
turning and kissing him passionately. Fox ran his hands up her arms and
gently slid the dress off her shoulders.

"You smell great, too," he noted as he nuzzled her neck. "Nice and fresh
and soooo sexy."

"Thank my deodorant. I was perspiring the whole reception," she laughed,
softly.

"My mom scare you that much?" he asked, never letting his full attention
drift from the task of slowly undressing her right in the middle of the
hall.

"Between your mom thinking you're a cad, and Frohike bursting out into
tears every time someone clinked their glass to make us kiss, yes, it
was a stressful day at times. But I loved dancing with you," she said,
and saw the gleam of agreement in his eyes. "And I think I have a pretty
good idea of how we can relieve some of this tension," she said
seductively. All the while she was being undressed, she had successfully
disrobed the handsome man in front of her. They now stood in the hall,
only in their undergarments.

"Hold that thought, Fox," she said quickly and scampered off to the
bathroom.

"That won't be hard," he sighed and headed off to their bedroom.

He switched on the light and immediately broke into a smile. The smell
of roses was almost overpowering. The flowers from the church had
'mysteriously' appeared in their bedroom, making the room smell like a
garden in late summer. Candles of all sizes and shapes were scattered
over the bureau, the nightstands and the window sills. A box of kitchen
matches with a note attached, sat on his pillow.

>>Light the candles and check the fridge. Have a wonderful night. We
love you both, very much.

(signed) Moms, Scully and Mulder<<

Checking to ensure that Dana wouldn't be making an appearance before his
return, he hurried off to the kitchen. Among several foil wrapped dishes
containing what he could only assume to be Mrs. Scully's fabulous
lasagna, was a tray with assorted cheeses and fruits, and a chilled
bottle of sparkling wine, non-alcoholic. Two wine glasses twinkled on
the countertop with two linen napkins. He scooped all of it up and
hurried back to the bedroom.

He rushed around the room, lighting all the candles, then turned down
the down comforter of the bed and slid between the sheets. <Satin,> he
noted. <Wonder whose idea that was?> He shook his head at the thought
that his mother would have suggested such a touch. <Mom Scully.
Definitely Mom Scully,> he decided.

It was then that he noticed the new alarm clock/CD player on the
nightstand. <So that's what Mom meant when she asked if I still had my
old clock from college,> he grinned. He hit the button and the voice of
Sting filled the room.

"You could say I lost my faith in science and progress.
You could say I lost my belief in the holy Church.
You could say I lost my sense of direction.
You could say all of this and worse but,
If I ever lost my faith in you,
There'd be nothing left for me to do...."

He closed his eyes and had almost drifted off when he felt the bed move,
and a warm presence engulf him. Without opening his eyes, he drew her
into an embrace, running his hand down her back. "This is nice," he
whispered as his fingers encountered the silk and lace nightgown she was
wearing. "Something new?"

"Present from Mom," she replied and sighed in contentment.

"Something tells me that if we weren't already 'expecting', it would
still be expected," he grinned and hugged her tighter to him. Opening
his eyes he lay and admired her as she looked around, taking in the
changes to the room.

"Nice tunes. Where'd the new clock come from?"

"My mom. She hinted at it this evening. So when did they manage to sneak
off and do all this?" he asked.

"I have no idea. But with the Lone Gunmen in attendance, I wouldn't be
surprised if we have a string quartet hiding in the closet waiting for
the right moment," she giggled.

"I'm expecting the Boston Pops, actually," he said, and kissed her hard
enough to take her breath away. She melted in his arms. "1812 Overture,"
he added, and turned to reach into the nightstand. She grabbed his hand
and licked the fingers very slowly, making him catch his breath.

"Special equipment is no longer necessary," she smiled. He answered her
with a confused look. "That appointment I went to on Thursday was for a
shot. No Irish twins in this family. At least, not unless we want, and
definitely not for three months."

He blinked. "What are Irish twins?" he asked, trying to understand the
code she was speaking. His mind was reeling and not really able to
concentrate on mere words any longer.

"Siblings born within a year of each other. Charlie and I are Irish
twins. Which makes one of us a surprise, or as Bill always told us, a
mistake. I say it was Charlie because I was born first, but Charlie says
it was me because they were expecting him and got me instead, so they
immediately tried to correct the problem."

"Too complicated for my New English Puritan upbringing," he surmised,
and proceeded to nibble her earlobe. "This is very, very nice," he
sighed.

"I know," she returned in a husky whisper. "It's nice to be 'legal'."

She could feel his smile against her shoulder where he was working his
way down her body with kisses. "Legal. That's one way to put it," he
answered. "Erotic. Aroused. Delicious. I guess you could fit 'legal' in
there someplace."

*****

"Ohmigod, Fox!" she screamed as light exploded behind her closed eyes.
She could sense that her partner felt the same way judging from his
ragged breathing. She kissed him gently on the eyelids, the cheeks and
finally his mouth. "God, you are good!" she complimented him.

"Ditto," he gasped. Speech was beyond his capabilities at that moment.
He was too busy concentrating on the necessities of existence, like
getting his lungs to fill with air and his heart to pump blood to other
parts of his body besides the lower regions. Finally, he calmed down
enough to think rationally. "That was wonderful," he murmured, pulling
her against his chest and leaning back.

She laughed teasingly. "I think I've created a sex fiend."

"Always was one. Just needed a good reason. You, my love, are the best
reason I've discovered."

The new Mr and Mrs Mulder lay in bed together, curled around each other.

"So, did you enjoy our day?"

"I loved it. Did I tell you that I loved you by the way?"

"Yes. Did I remember to mention I loved you?"

"Yes." They lay together in mutual warmth.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"You didn't just marry me because I'm carrying your child, did you?"

"Of course not! I...I know this was all sudden, and we didn't have time
to talk about how we felt until we came here. But I've always loved you,
and I've always wanted you. That abduction, this baby..well, it was a
blessing in disguise. I love you. And I love our baby."

"Thank you."

"You didn't just marry me because I got you pregnant did you? You never
struck me as the type to do something you didn't want to just to be
respectable."

"No, the fact you knocked me up didn't come into it."

"What a charming way to put it." They both grinned in the darkness.

"Really?"

"Really. Just because I'm pregnant was no good reason to marry. I always
wanted to marry you. I was always just trying to pluck up the courage to
tell you how I felt when this happened."

"And now we're lovers, spouses, and prospective parents."

"Uh, huh." They snuggled up. "Do I show much yet?"

"Not much. You won't see it in the photos, don't worry."

"That's good. I know it's vain but I didn't want to look pregnant on my
wedding day."

"So, do you want to make love?"

"Again??"

"Sorry. Are you tired? That's OK if so."

"No, no. I'm pregnant, not ill. I was just teasing you."

"C'mere then....."

"Yeah, let's get good at this, before I blow up to the size of a house
and all this is just a dream," he smirked, and he watched the fireworks
go off in her eyes again.

End part thirteen.

<Footnote: the song playing is "Lose My Faith In You" by Sting, used
without permission, no infringement intended.>

From fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk Mon Jan 06 05:48:11 1997
See part one for disclaimers.

Inherently Given.
by Michelle Hiley and Vickie Moseley.
fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk, vmoseley@fgi.net

Part Fourteen: Cold Feet, Warm Heart.

The safe house.
February 14th 1997.
2.30 pm.

"Mulder, I'm sorry, it can't be done," Dana said with her arms crossed
in a defensive posture.

"Why not? I mean, what's the problem here? It should be a simple needle
and thread operation." He was leaning against the doorjam to the
kitchen, a pair of well worn, much loved Levi's 501s in one hand, and a
needle and blue thread in the other. "I'll do it myself if you'll show
me how."

"Mulder, in order to 'let out' those jeans, I would have to one, take
off the waistband, two, add fabric to the side seams, and three, add
fabric to the waistband itself. Face it, you are going to have to wear
sweatpants until the baby comes. Then, after a few weeks on the
'ab-roller', you'll be back in those rags, er, I mean jeans, in no
time." She went back to chopping carrots into the roasting pan on the
counter.

Mulder stood there for several minutes. When she finally looked over at
him, the look of total despair was too much for her. "Sweetheart," she
said lovingly. "I'm sorry. It's just a few months. Really, you'll feel a
lot more comfortable in the sweats. They won't cut into your stomach and
you'll probably breathe better in them, too. Here," she gently took the
jeans out of his hands. "Let me put these up in the closet where we can
be sure to pack them up when we go home. They'll still be waiting for
you. OK?" She couldn't help but notice that he had followed her all the
way upstairs to the bedroom, and watched her every move as she put the
jeans in a box labeled 'post partum clothes' and put it on the shelf.

Still in his boxers, Mulder glared at the chest of drawers in the corner
of their bedroom. Slowly, he went over and pulled out a pair of navy
blue sweatpants and put them on. "Dana," he called to her as she got to
the doorway.

"Yes?" she returned. When she looked at him, it was obvious that this
was going to be one of *those* discussions. "Should we take this to the
living room and get a drink before we start?" she quipped. It was
evidence of how bad this discussion was going to be that he didn't even
crack a smile. "OK, maybe not," she said evenly and sat down on the bed.

Mulder didn't sit. He started to pace. Back and forth, in front of her.
"Dana," he said, in his serious, this-is-important tone.

"Fox," she answered. If he wanted 'serious', he was damn well going to
get 'serious'.

"I don't want to wear sweatclothes for the next five months," he
intoned.

"I like you naked, Mulder. It makes no difference to me," she replied
and immediately realized the mistake of her comment. He was not going to
be teased out of this mood. He turned to glare at her and she smiled
apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you. Now tell me,
what's the problem?"

"I've been thinking." He waited, half expecting her to come up with
another sarcastic remark. When none was forthcoming, he continued.
"Maybe this wasn't such a hot idea."

Dana took in a deep breath. <Oh, god. He wants out. Marriage was a bad
idea. Oh no. Now I've lost him.> It felt like a knife had just been
driven through her heart. The pain was so bad that all she could do was
listen to him as he began again.

"I mean, sure, it's a wonderful advance in science. And I'm sure a lot
would be learned by continuing the experiment. But we are talking
*lives* here, Dana. My life. Your life. And I just don't know if this is
the right way to go about all this. I don't think I'm the right man for
the job. I think we should consider....ending the experiment. Right now.
Before it gets too far." He sat down next to her and took her hand. "But
this isn't just my decision. It's half your experiment, too. So I want
to know what you think."

She was stunned. "I don't know what to say, Fox. I mean, I thought we
had gone over this long ago. Why now, after all we've been through, are
you having second thoughts?"

"I don't know. And I don't know if they are 'second' thoughts, Dana. I
think they're just thoughts. First, second, third, hell, I've lost track
of them by now. I just feel.....it just feels wrong, somehow. Not right.
Like something is missing here and I don't know what it is. This is a
lot of trouble for a really dumb science project, you know," he said
with a weak attempt at levity.

"We have an appointment with Dr. Robert in an hour. I asked him to stay
for dinner. What if we, or maybe you, talk to him then? A nice long
talk. Maybe we need an outside opinion on this one." She took his hand
and kissed it gently, then released it and stood up. "You need a nap, my
love. I'm going to finish dinner. I'll call you when Dr. Robert gets
here, all right?"

"Yeah, good idea," he said and stretched out on his side, but sleep
eluded him.

It wasn't that he didn't love his wife. He did. It wasn't that he didn't
want to have children with her someday. It just seemed that he was the
only one experiencing the pain, the swelling, having to change all of
his habits. Coffee was now a dream of the past, as was most of the fat
laden food he loved the most. Sunflower seeds had been banned during Dr.
Robert's last visit, because his blood pressure was elevated and they
contained sodium. He was sleeping in a bed, (although that had an up
side, since he was sharing that bed with his wife), his videos did not
make the trip, (not that he *really* needed them now), and now he
couldn't even fit into his most comfortable clothes. This was just too
much, the last straw, the bridge was burning and he was on the wrong
side.

Punching the pillow in frustration, he finally found a position that
didn't cause his legs to ache and fell into a fitful sleep.

*****

"Fox, why don't you sit here and let me take your blood pressure," Dr.
Robert said with a smile. The retired obstetrician was in seventh heaven
with this case. He had taught OB/GYN at the University of Maryland when
Dana had been in medical school, and was still involved in research,
having just finished an article for the Journal of the American Medical
Association. But working with the first male maternity patient was quite
possibly the high point of his distinguished career. Not to mention that
he liked the young man sitting before him.

"Hmmm. It's still a little elevated, Fox. You haven't been sneaking
those darn sunflower seeds, have you?" the doctor accused.

Mulder sighed. "Not a one. Check the house, Dana has. There are no
sunflower seeds on the premises."

Dr. Robert frowned. He could tell when a patient was upset and the young
man before him was practically screaming the fact at him. "OK, Fox, out
with it. What's the matter?" the old doctor asked.

Mulder stared at the floor. "I'm....I'm just having....I don't know if
this is the right thing for me to do. If I made the right decision when
I said I would go through with this. I mean, what they did, that was,
well, if it doesn't constitute rape, it sure constitutes a violation of
my civil rights, damn it! They abducted me, they put that implant in
me....."

Dr Robert hastened to reassure him. "Fox, I told you, the implant seems
to be slowly releasing a pregnancy hormone. It's necessary, and it
doesn't appear to be harming you. When we take the baby, we'll remove
the implant as well. But for now we have to leave it, if you want a
healthy baby, OK?"

Mulder bit his lip, and shook his head. "I'm not sure I do want
actually," he said quietly.

"I'm sorry?"

"I didn't ask for this baby. I don't know that I want it, either."
Mulder finally looked up and the older man could see the torment in his
eyes.

Dr. Robert made a decision in that moment. He had talked to these two
young people on several occasions. He knew Dana, she was a strong young
woman who could handle just about anything that might come her way. The
young man before him was made of steel, in the good doctor's opinion. He
was determined and committed. Dana and Fox loved each other and had made
a life together long before circumstances turned them into a family. Fox
just needed to be reminded of what was really at stake here.

"Fox, I want you to lie down, please," Dr. Robert said evenly. He turned
to his bag and drew out a small black box that was about the size of an
AM/FM radio with some sort of microphone on the end. Then he took a
white bottle and lifting Mulder's shirt, he squirted a bluish tinted gel
all over his stomach.

"Oooo, that's cold," Mulder yelped, but otherwise, just watched Dr.
Robert at work. This was the first time they had done *this* test and
Mulder wasn't too sure what to expect. In a way, he didn't really want
to know, he just wanted it all to be over.

After a moment, Dr. Robert rubbed the microphone over Mulder's stomach,
back and forth slowly. There was static over the radio. Suddenly, there
was a thumping. Loud, regular, a little fast, but strong. A heart
beating.

Mulder drew in a breath and looked at the doctor in amazement. "Is
that...?....Could that really be..?"

Dr. Robert smiled knowingly and nodded.

"Dana! Dana! Get in here, NOW!" Mulder shouted. Dana hurtled upstairs
and into the bedroom as if being pursued.

"Oh God, Mulder! What is it? Are you all right?" she demanded. Mulder
put his finger to his lips and silently instructed her to listen. She
stood stock still and in a moment, recognized the sound. A proud grin
spread across her face and her eyes glistened with tears as she watched
her partner look down in amazement at his swollen stomach, seeing her
own tears mirrored in his eyes.

"That's a good strong heartbeat, Fox," Dana said quietly. "Must be a
fighter like its father." She suddenly realised the ambiguity of that
statement, considering they still weren't sure which of them the
"father" was. "I mean I think it might take after you."

"You think?" He grinned at her proudly. "Mind you, you're one hell of a
survivor yourself, Scully."

Dr. Robert smiled again. <Whew, that one was close,> he told himself.
"Well whoever is responsible, that is one persistent little heartbeat."
He moved to take the microphone off Mulder's stomach, but the young man
caught his hand and held it there.

"Can I listen just a little longer, Doc? Please?"

Dr Robert nodded, and beckoned to Scully. "Actually, if I may I'd like
to use the bathroom. Would you take over for a moment?" He pushed the
microphone into Dana's unresisting hands and made himself scarce. Those
two could use a few minutes alone.

Mulder caught Scully's eye and smiled. "OK sweetheart?" he asked.

She smiled back uncertainly. "Fox....about our discussion earlier, that
was just....what?"

He sighed. "I'm sorry love. I was being selfish thinking only of myself
and not my family."

"I think you're justified," she whispered. "It's your body."

"But it's our child. And, when I'm not wallowing in self pity, I want
this baby, as much as you do." He saw her face light up. "I'm still
retaining the right to complain now and then. I think that's only fair.
But there is no way I can walk away from this, Dana. This is worth all
the inconvenience in the world." He pulled her into a kiss as the sound
of their baby's heart echoed off the walls of their bedroom, leaving
nothing but promises in its wake.

End part fourteen.

From fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk Mon Jan 06 05:49:21 1997
See part one for disclaimers.

Inherently Given.

by Vickie Moseley and Michelle Hiley.
vmoseley@fgi.net, fbi_basement@hiley.demon.co.uk

Part Fifteen. But I Have Nothing To Wear.

The safe house.
March 24, 1997.
10:14 am.

"Hi Mom," Fox said with a smile as he recognized the voice on the other
end of the phone line.

"Hi, Sweetheart. How are three of my favorite people?" Maggie asked
playfully.

"Dana and I are fine, the baby's great. Doc says everything is going
terrific. Whoever these jokers were, they figured out the contingencies.
Did you get the sonogram pictures we sent?" Mulder asked, licking ice
cream off a spoon before putting it into the dishwasher. Dana didn't let
him do a lot of chores in the house, but some she didn't object to, and
loading the dishwasher had become one of his rituals.

"I did, and I'm tickled pink. You asked them not to let you know the
baby's sex huh? You can't tell from the pictures that's for sure."

"We like surprises," Fox quipped. "At least, we're getting used to
surprises," he added at the sound of Maggie's laughter. "You don't mind
not knowing, do you?"

"No," Maggie reassured him. "You're right, surprises can be fun. So
everything's OK?"

"Yes, Doc said that the baby is perfect. Dana put the pictures in the
baby book already."

"That's wonderful, Fox. I'm so excited, I can hardly wait. But that's
not the only reason I called. I wanted to know what you two, or rather,
'three' were planning on doing this weekend."

Fox stopped scraping the plate into the garbage and thought for a
moment. The weekend. There was something special coming up on the
weekend, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He finally gave up. "Got
me, Mom. Dana likes to do laundry on Saturday. Why, you coming up for a
visit? We'd love to have you," he said happily. He was always happy to
see Maggie. She let him sneak all his favorite foods when Dana wasn't
watching. Once she told him that when Dana was the one who was pregnant
and craving her favorites, she'd understand, but until then, it was
*their* little secret.

"Fox, have you looked at a calendar lately? Next Sunday is Easter
Sunday. I've heard from the boys, and Bill and the family are at his
in-laws this year, and Charlie is still out to sea. I was planning on
spending Easter up there with you," Maggie said. She went on talking
about all the arrangements, but Fox had lost all interest in the
conversation.

Easter. He had forgotten. Well, not really forgotten. Easter was just
one of those holidays that never came up when he was a child, his
parents just hadn't bothered much. But he had noticed that Dana had gone
once or twice to the little Catholic Church in town on Sunday mornings.
He was sure she would want to go on Easter Sunday. It was pretty much
expected. And especially if Maggie was visiting. But did he really want
to go with them?

"So is that all right, Fox? I mean, if Friday night is bad, I could come
up Saturday morning, if you prefer," Maggie was saying, and it dragged
his mind back to the conversation he was ignoring.

"No, no, come on up on Friday, that will give us time to ah, dye eggs, I
guess," he said absently. "Y' know, I think I hear the dryer. I forgot
and put my tennis shoes in there and they're banging away. I better go
grab 'em before they melt on the sides. Last time that happened, Dana
hit the roof. Take care Mom, bye," he said and quickly hit the
disconnect button.

Mulder put the phone down and went to sit in the living room. He clicked
on the television, not even noticing he had tuned to the golf channel.
He was too busy thinking.

Religion was not very high on the Fox Mulder list of things to think
about, but this was different. This was Easter. And he was spending it
with his wonderful, beautiful, intelligent, faithful, *Catholic* wife.
At Christmas, Maggie and Dana had sneaked out after the presents were
opened to 'grab a quick Mass' as Dana had told him later. With the
Gunmen to keep him company, he hadn't felt compelled to accompany them
to church. They hadn't said anything to him when they got back and
everyone had enjoyed a huge Christmas dinner compliments of Maggie
Scully. End of any possible religious discussion.

But now, Dana was his wife. And they were very much a family, as his
shifting and moving bulge of a stomach was quick to remind him. He
patted his stomach gently, thinking hard. Families, normal families, had
traditions. Happy traditions. Dana deserved some traditions in her life.
They had never talked about it, but he was certain that Easter Sunday
was a day she had probably looked forward to as a child. A time for a
new dress, and brightly colored eggs, and all that candy. He knew malted
milk balls were a secret passion of hers. It dawned on him like a bright
light, she had been playing Handel's Messiah on the CD the past few
days. Even though it was commonly heard at Christmas, Mulder remembered
his music lit enough to know that it was really Easter music. Yes,
Mulder was convinced that Easter was indeed on her mind.

But she hadn't said a thing to him. Never mentioned it at all. Which
meant that she was worried about his reaction. The only time they had
discussed religion had been the Kevin Kryder case, and that was hardly
the perfect venue. He hadn't been able to buy into the 'miracle' at the
time, but she did. And it had affected their partnership on a deep
level. Because of that case, he was sure she would assume that he didn't
want to celebrate 'religious' holidays with her. She would probably
sneak out to Easter Mass alone, if not for her mother coming to visit.
She more than likely wouldn't even tell him where she was going. It
dawned on him that only the secular part of the holidays would get any
attention in their home. A part of her life, a part of her world, would
always be hidden from him. That thought made him sad.

"Well, Scully, this time you're wrong," he said to the television set,
which was trying its darnedest to get him to buy a new improved pitching
wedge. "We are going to celebrate all the holidays you did as a child.
Hell, we'll do Diwali, Hanukkah, Christmas, and all the rest if it makes
you happy! You like traditions, Dana Scully. I know that. And I love
you, so you are gonna GET traditions, by god!" With a vigor he hadn't
felt before, he started devising his plan.

*****

Offices of the Lone Gunmen.
March 25 1997.
9:40 am.

"Lone Gunman," Langly said into the phone receiver.

"Langly, it's Mulder. Turn off the tape," Mulder said with annoyance.

"Ah, it's the little mother! How ya doin', Mom?" Langly exclaimed
gleefully and hit the speaker button so that his cohorts could hear the
conversation.

"That tape had better be off, Langly, or they won't find your body,"
Mulder hissed, then his tone softened. "I'm fine," he added.

"And that little bundle under your belt buckle?" Langly asked with a
chuckle.

"Bundle is fine, great actually. And Byers, you..."

"And how's the baby?" snickered Frohike. Mulder grimaced as he heard the
peals of laughter coming from the Gunmen.

"*Very* funny guys."

"Sorry." Langly coughed and managed to stop laughing. "How are things,
really?"

"They're OK. And Byers you were right. The second trimester is a breeze
compared to the first. But I didn't call to talk baby talk. I have a
mission for you guys," Mulder said.

"You name it, friend. What is it? You want us to hack into some defense
contractors? Maybe tap into the DIA files on the latest military
hardware using UFO garbage parts? We aim to please....."

"I need you to come up here and go shopping with me."

*****

A Small New Hampshire Town.
March 26, 1997.
10:21 am.

It hadn't been easy getting out from under Dana's watchful eye. As a
matter of fact, it had been almost impossible. Though she was normally
easy going about who he saw, she'd become more and more protective of
Mulder as the pregnancy progressed, and she obviously sensed something
was going on with the arrival of the Gunmen. Mulder hadn't been able to
tell her exactly what they were doing, and he could see she'd assumed
they were going to ditch her and go chasing aliens, a risk she wasn't
about to let Mulder take in his condition. He couldn't blame her for her
suspicions, he thought ruefully. Finally, Byers had taken her aside and
pleaded with her to let them go out and do "guy things", as he put it.
He pointed out that Mulder was probably itching to get out for a while,
and who better to watch over him than the baby's honorary 'godfathers'?
Harmless stuff, he promised. No aliens, no breaking the law and
definitely no jumping onto trains. After a great deal of discussion, and
a lot of questions as to exactly where they were going and the nature of
their activities, Dana had capitulated and allowed them to leave, but
demanded that they take the cell phone and have it on at all times,
informing Byers that if she got called to a hospital because Mulder was
in Intensive Care, or to a jail to bail him out, both Mulder and the
Gunmen would wish they'd never been born. They reassured her, and
smiled, and vowed to be home by early afternoon, so that Mulder could go
for his nap at three.

"You take a nap, man?" Langly exclaimed as they made their way to the
van.

Mulder shot him a glare. "Wanta make something of it?" he hissed.

Langly immediately realized he had hit a very sensitive nerve and
regretted it. "Hey, no way, Mulder. I mean, I'd *love it* if somebody
made me take a nap every day. Sounds like a great way to spend an
afternoon." He elbowed Frohike in the ribs and the little man quickly
nodded in agreement.

"Geez, yeah, Mulder. Sounds hot. Especially if you get to take 'company'
with you," he added with a leer.

"Frohike, you are dangerously close to becoming target practice," Mulder
warned.

Frohike gave his best innocent smile and decided to stay quiet for the
rest of the ride to town.

"So, what are we talking here, Mulder? Baby stuff, a present for Dana,
what?" Byers asked.

"No, guys, we are looking for clothes. And since I need them and I want
to get Dana something nice, I decided, well, I really had no one else I
could turn to," Mulder admitted.

"Don't work so hard to flatter us, Mulder," Langly said with a pout.

"Hmmm, clothes," muttered Byers. "What kind of clothes?"

"Something for Dana?" Frohike forgot his silence resolution. "Hey, I
know this guy does a great line in leather and rubber..."

Mulder gave him an exasperated look. "Not those kind of clothes."

"Why not? All you'd need to pick up now would be a pair of fishnet
stockings...she'd look great...."

"*Respectable* clothes, Frohike," replied Mulder. "A nice dress,
something 'springy' for Dana. And something, uh,.....well, something I
could wear to a church," Mulder replied, a slight embarrassed flush
creeping up into his cheeks.

"You aren't getting nervous about this baby thing, are you, Mulder?"
Langly asked, letting the concern show behind his dark rimmed glasses.

"It's Easter, you dope!" Mulder shot back. "I'm not making it a habit.
I'm just going because, well, because Maggie is coming up and Dana will
want to go on Easter Sunday and....."

"Sounds henpecked to me," Langly whispered conspiratorially to Frohike.
Frohike saw the homicidal gleam in Mulder's eye and wisely decided not
to comment.

"For your information, I am NOT henpecked!" Mulder growled. "I am a
family man now, and families have traditions. I'm not doing this for
Dana,...." He stopped as three sets of eyebrows raised in disbelief.
"OK, I'm sort of doing this for Dana, but mostly I'm doing it because I
want our baby to have some traditions. Is that a crime!?" His voice made
it clear that he was expecting a negative response to his query.

Three heads shook side to side simultaneously. "No way, Mulder." "Of
course not Mulder." "No one would ever convict you, Mulder." At the last
comment, Mulder let them off the hook and grinned. They all broke down
into laughter.

"Sheez, this hormonal stuff is for the birds," Frohike confided to
Langly, who simply nodded and smiled in agreement.

*****

The foursome sat looking out the window and at least two of the faces
were wincing.

"Guys, I was hoping for something a little more, uh, upscale," said
Mulder, his voice thick with reluctance.

"What's the matter with you? This is a *great* store! I mean, they have
that whole 'Cathy Lee Gifford' line of clothes, and they have a wide
selection of 'big and tall men's' sizes, which we need for you these
days. We couldn't find a more complete store in Manhattan, for cripes
sakes!" Frohike cried as he jumped out of the car and headed across the
parking lot.

"He really likes Wal-Mart," Langly shrugged in explanation, and headed
off after his friend.

Mulder closed his eyes in an effort to dispel the horrible visions
plaguing his mind. Byers gently took his elbow and lead him towards the
entrance.

*****

Mulder stood in front of a display rack of spring dresses trying to
picture his wife in any of them. It wasn't working. He knew two Dana
Scullys. One wore very fitted, very professional business suits and
pantsuits. The other wore jeans and sweaters or sweat clothes. Then
again, he was now acquainted with a third one who wore nothing at all
and he smiled a tiny secret smile at the new version of his
partner/wife. He shook his head to clear that particular thought and
tried to concentrate on the task at hand.

He'd never been to Easter Mass. He'd seen pictures, growing up. He
remembered seeing women in dresses, bright splashes of colored flowers
covering wide skirts. Wide belts cinched tight to accentuate the slim
waistlines. Fitted bodices that left very little to the imagination,
even in a religious setting. <Geez, get the mind out of the bedroom,
Mulder,> he chided himself. And a hat, to top it all off. But the
dresses he was seeing on the display didn't look a thing like the one in
his mind. It was not working.

"Find anything?" Langly asked, wandering back from his perusal of the
bras and underwear.

Mulder gave him a stern look. "She's got plenty of that stuff, Langly,"
he scoffed. Then he looked back at the dresses in front of him. "I don't
see her in any of these," he sighed. "Where's Byers? We need his
opinion."

"Lost in electronics, I think," Langly muttered.

"Eureka, Mulder! I've found it!" cried Frohike from an aisle over. In a
flash he was there, holding up a flowered print dress, wide belt and
short sleeved. He held it just to his neck, to show where it hit on the
legs. "Well, what do you think? Think it'll fit?"

Mulder bit his lip to keep from laughing. Langly stood there, totally
nonplussed.

"Nah, Fro. You never put a red head in orange! Put that back. See if
there's one with green as the background. Or blue. Navy would work,
wouldn't it, Mulder? I mean, she doesn't have a lot of navy in her
wardrobe, but it would look nice with her hair. Is she a true autumn, or
does the hair throw that off?"

Mulder turned to stare at his friend. "You are seriously scaring me
here, Langly. Frohike, I'm sorry, but this isn't a 'Dana' store. No
offence." He patted the short man on the shoulder. "Let's go see if we
can find me something instead."

"I'll just check the hats...."

*****

Several minutes later, after Mulder had to physically drag Frohike away
from the hat display, and Byers was coaxed away from the electronics
department by the promise of coffee when they were done, all three
co-conspirators were standing outside the one lone dressing room in the
men's department, waiting for their friend to open the door.

"Come on, Mulder. It can't be that bad," Byers was quick to assure him.

"You haven't see it yet, Byers," Mulder's muffled voice wafted over the
door.

"Do you need a bigger size?" Langly asked helpfully.

"They don't _make_ a bigger size," Frohike offered. Both the others
glared at him. "Well, they don't," he said defensively.

"Come on out, Mulder. Maybe you're just standing too close to the mirror
to be objective," Byers suggested.

Mulder finally opened the door, and glared at all three, daring them to
comment. Immediately, all three friends bit down *hard* on their
tongues. It wasn't that bad. It was worse.

"Mulder, are you sure you aren't carrying twins?" Langly asked softly.
The question earned him a quick jab to the ribs from Byers.

"I think we got the wrong color," Frohike added.

"Half of my wardrobe is this color, Frohike," Mulder said through
clenched teeth. "I like brown."

"Mulder, it makes you look,....ah, well, for some reason barns keep
coming to mind," Frohike said frankly.

"We need a looser fabric," decided Byers. "That fabric is too stiff.
It's too confining."

"I'm too huge," Mulder sighed unhappily.

"Don't say that, Mulder. I think you have a, I don't know, a certain
'glow' to you. And besides, it's not like you're looking to be a 'babe
magnet' on Sunday, right?" Frohike assured him.

"I have a suggestion, though," Byers added hastily. "Make sure _you_
take all the pictures on Sunday."

Langly shook his head. "Guys, we need a place that does good personal
tailoring." He smiled at Mulder. "Don't worry, we can minimise it. Let's
try somewhere else."

*****

"Hey look guys!"

Byers and Frohike looked to where Langly was pointing.

"Impressive."

"Yeah. Must be expensive. What do you think Mulder?"

"It's great guys. But I came to pick out clothes, not admire the
security cameras."

Byers had found the store guide. "So, who are we transforming first
Professor Higgins?" he asked Langly.

"Mulder," said Langly firmly, steering them towards men's wear.

*****

They headed home feeling a lot happier. An understanding assistant in
the men's wear department had helped them pick out a suit, after Langly
had sorrowfully confided to him about his friend's beer gut problem, and
whilst it didn't hide the bulge totally, the well cut jacket and loose
pants certainly made Mulder look presentable. For Scully they had found
the type of dress Mulder had envisioned, with a delicate and tasteful
floral pattern at hem and bodice, in a bright blue that would match her
eyes. A matching hat had completed the ensemble carefully chosen by
Langly and Mulder, and approved by the other two. Now as they headed
back to the car with their purchases, Mulder stopped.

"Hang on guys, I just need to call in here. I'll only be a few minutes."
He vanished into the store he'd indicated returning a few minutes later
with a bulging carrier bag.

"You like candy, huh Mulder?"

"It's for Scully and her mother. And a little for me," Mulder conceded.
"It's for Easter Morning. And here," he thrust a box at Byers, a little
embarrassed. "You guys like candy, right?"

"Sure."

"Then Happy Easter, and thanks for helping me out."

"No trouble," said Frohike, trying to prise the box off Byers.

"Wait till the weekend," Byers told him grinning. "We'll share it then."

Frohike pouted, but subsided. "Well, shall we take Mulder home, and give
our regards to the lady before we leave?"

"She'll be sorry if you don't, for all her worrying about what we've
been up to," Mulder replied. "Stay the night, make a fresh start
tomorrow."

They nodded, grateful not to have to head straight home.

*****

The safe house.
26th March 1997.
2:45 pm.

Scully turned from the window as she saw the car pull up. Not that she'd
ever admit to Mulder how worried she was whenever he went out, but she'd
been glancing out of the window for the past hour. She waited until she
heard the key in the lock and slowly went downstairs, smiling at her
husband and his friends.

"Hi. Good to see you."

Mulder chuckled. "And we didn't get arrested love. The baby and I are
just fine."

She nodded and turned to the Gunmen. "So, are you guys staying? You're
welcome."

"If it's OK with you," replied Langly. "Then we can set off afresh
tomorrow."

"Stay as long as you like. My mother's coming up this weekend, she often
mentions you."

Byers shook his head. "We can't, sorry. We'll have to leave tomorrow,
there's a conference we need to be back for."

Mulder looked interested. "I never thought of you as the conference
type. MUFON or something?"

"Governmental employees," replied Langly. At Mulder's puzzled look he
explained. "We aren't attending. We're recording."

"Ah." Scully thought it wise to change the subject. "OK, guys, you know
where the spare rooms are. Help yourselves. Mulder, I'll make us a
drink, and then...."

"It's nap time." He hugged her, taking her by surprise. "I know. I'm
grateful you take such care of me."

Touched, she hugged him back while the Gunmen watched. Frohike sighed.

"Gee Agent Scully, I'd have had your baby, if you'd only asked."

Scully bit back a smile and regarded him gravely. "Thanks. What were you
four doing today anyway, or can't you tell me?"

"I'll tell you in the kitchen," Mulder said, steering her towards the
door. The Gunmen smiled, nudged each other and headed upstairs.

*****

"So?"

"So.....it's Easter this weekend, you know." He smiled at her. She
looked at him, warily.

"And?"

"And, it is customary for people to go to church. Don't think you're
getting out of it, Dana Mulder." He laughed at the expression on her
face. "I am taking you, and your mother, to church."

"But you're an atheist! Why do you want to go to church?"

"True, but it's part of your life. I want to go, to be with you. And so
you didn't disgrace me, I bought you some new clothes," he added
teasingly.

She just stood and stared at him as he proffered the bag. Opening it he
drew out the dress and hat. "Do you like it? It's your size, I checked."

Her face lit up, and she hugged him as hard as she dared. Letting him
go, she looked at the dress admiringly. "It's beautiful! And the hat
matches perfectly! You picked this out?"

"Langly helped."

"*Langly*??"

"Be grateful we didn't go with some of Frohike's suggestions."

They both laughed. "I got myself some new clothes too. And I bought some
candy, for both of us and your mother. No eating it until Sunday, I know
you Scully women have a sweet tooth. And now, I shall make that drink
and go take my nap while you talk to the guys."

"*I'll* make it. You four deserve it." Her voice went quiet. "Thank you,
Fox."

"You deserve some traditions, Dana. So does the baby. We should raise it
to appreciate its Mom is a Catholic, and its Dad is an atheist. Then
when it's a teenager, it can make its own choice. What do you think
it'll be?"

"Confused most probably." She smiled again. "But yes, I agree. We don't
push either view. It gets to know both sides, and decide for itself."

"Agreed then. And in the meantime, we go to church, *and* we go UFO
spotting without breaking the law. After all we both want to believe..."

End part fifteen.