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Title: After Existence Summary: What happened between when Mulder got to Democrat Hot Springs and when he shows up at Scully's apartment. (Ok, ok, a little after what they showed in Scully's apartment too) As he went from car to car, nobody would even so much as acknowledged that he was there. They were like robots with a solitary purpose. He could feel his panic starting to rise in his belly. He firmly stamped it down. This was no time to lose it! He heard a familiar voice, call his name. It wasn't Scully's voice but it was familiar just the same. "Agent Mulder!" Reyes calls out to him. He turns and sees her standing over by one of the buildings. He jogged over to her. When he gets close, he asks her, "Where's Scully?" She pointed towards the door and he turns to enter the building. "They need a doctor," she says. He turns and looks at her and then proceeds to go inside. He stops dead in his tracks by the scene in front of him. Scully is in a makeshift bed, cuddling a tiny life to her breast. He feels the tears start to fill his eyes again. It's just about the most beautiful sight he has ever seen. He had wanted this for her so desperately. She deserved it. "Scully," he says barely above a whisper, his voice choked with emotion. As he speaks, he reaches out and touches her shoulder gently. She is somewhat startled, but she smiles brightly when she looks up at him. Mulder reaches out slowly and softly caresses the baby's cheek. "Isn't he beautiful?" she asks. "He?" Mulder reiterates. She smiles again. "Yes. We have a son, Mulder," she says. He breaks out in the wildest, silliest grin. She reahces out and grasps his hand. Then she pulls him down beside her on the bed. "How did you know?" she asks him. "I didn't. Not really. I just suddenly got his very strong feeling that you needed me. I knew one way or the other, I HAD to get to you. I was so afraid when I got here, that I was too late -- that you were already gone!" he said as he leaned over and touched his lips to hers. "I've never been so scared in my life," she says as she pulls him to her. "I was scared to give birth here by myself and I was terrified that they were going to take him," she tells him, hugging the baby closer to her. "Do you think it's possible that you tapped into that fear?" "I honesty don't know, Scully. I suddenly got a strong feeling that I had to find you. I'm just sorry I didn't make it in time." "I desperately wanted you here ... it was the most incredible moment of my life. The only thing that would have made it perfect was if you'd been here ... but at least you're here now," she says as she looks up at him and their eyes lock. No words could express what they are both feeling right now, so neither of them said a word. They just continued to stare into each other's eyes, all the way to each other's soul. Suddenly everything is so clear and simple. Mulder slowly bends to kiss her, but just as their lips touch, Reyes barges in. She stops dead in her tracks. "Sorry to interrupt, but these two really do need to get to the hospital," she says. Mulder pulls back, but their eyes remain locked for another moment or two. Finally, he stands up and looks at Reyes. "I know," he tells her. Then he turns his attention back to Scully. "Can you walk?" he asks her. "I think so," she says as she reaches up and hands the baby to Mulder. He takes the tiny bundle somewhat reluctantly, obviously nervous. Fatherhood was not something he had ever thought about. Somehow sharing this with Scully, made it seem right. She moves over to the edge of the bed and puts her feet on the floor. Mulder turns and quickly hands the baby to Reyes. Then he turns back to Scully. He reaches out and takes both of her hands in his and gently helps her to her feet. As soon as she tries to take a step, her knees buckle. Mulder grabs her and before she knows it, she's safely wrapped in his arms. He carries her out to the helicopter. He's actually surprised that she lets him. In fact, she seems rather grateful and cuddles right into him. Reyes, carrying the baby, following very closely behind them. Once they are on the helicopter, he bends to set her down, but she's reluctant to let go of him. "It's okay, Scully. I'm not going anywhere." "I know ... it just feels SO good to be in your arms again." Once he is seated beside her, Reyes places the baby back in her arms. Mulder puts his arms around the two of them. Scully cuddles right into him with her head on his chest and her arms tightly around their son. She closes her eyes and drifts off to sleep. It has been a very tiring day, but now she's safe -- and happy! Mulder cuddles them close to him and he gently kisses the top of Scully's head. She smiles, half asleep. He looks up when Reyes speaks. "How did you know, Agent Mulder?" she asks. "Know what?" "Know what was going on here?" "I didn't. Not really. I just had this horrible feeling that I she needed me. Scully and I have worked together a long time. We have a certain connection ... I mean ..." "Don't be embarrassed of the relationship you have with Dana. It's very special -- treasure it!" "Believe me, I do. I'm thankful every single day. She's the best thing that ever happened to me." "She feels the same way about you." "Did she tell you that?" "She didn't have to. I see it everytime she looks at you or talks about you." Mulder shakes his head and smiles slightly. Could it really be true? Could she actually feel the same way about me that I feel about her? There was something in Reyes' words that actually made him believe it. For the first time since he'd come back, Mulder was actually filled with hope. Maybe his dreams really COULD come true." Before he can think about it any further, the pilot tells them that they are about to land. He gently shakes Scully to wake her up. As she starts to wake, she cries out. She doesn't want to wake up and leave her dream being in Mulder's arms. Then she opens her eyes and sees Mulder, she smiles. It wasn't a dream after all. She really was in his arms. "We're at the hospital, Scully!" Mulder tells her. When she looks up at him she tries to hide her disappointment. She could have stayed like this forever. Mulder notices the look on her face immediately. He leans down and whispers in her ear. "It's okay, Scully. This is only a delay. We WILL finish this." She smiles at him broadly. Maybe there really is hope for us. I began to think it would never work out, but now maybe ... just maybe. She is quickly whisked away to the hospital, Mulder following close behind. Scully is relieved when the doctor reports that both she and the baby are fine. The doctor tells her that she needs to take it easy for a few days, but they should both be fine. Then he asks for the baby's name so they can issue the birth certificate. Up until this point she hadn't really thought about it. Ever since she first found out that she was going to have a boy, there was ONE name that stuck in her mind -- William. It just seemed perfect, but she had really hoped to choose his name WITH Mulder. She asks if she could have some time to think about it. The doctor tells her that shouldn't be a problem and he leaves. Scully lays back and closes her eyes. She pictures Mulder trying to pick a name for his son. After the doctor tells them that Scully and the baby should both be fine, Mulder gets up. "Agent Reyes, I have to go!" he tells her. Reyes looks at him with a surprised look on her face. "I'm sure Dana will want to see you. Why are you leaving now?" "Because I have to do something -- something I should have done a long time ago," he says as he turns to go. At the door, he stops and turns back to look at Reyes. "I'm phoning her Mom to come and take them home. Tell Scully I'll see her later." As Mulder walks out of the hospital, he takes out his cell phone and dials. Reyes is not looking forward to telling Dana that Mulder is gone. She knows she'll be heart broken. Scully is so lost in her thoughts that she doesn't hear the door open. "Dana?" Reyes asks hesitantly. Her eyes pop open, but when she sees Reyes her face registers her disappointment. "Where's Mulder?" she asks. "He left," Reyes tells her. "He said he had something he had to take care of, but that he'd see you later." Scully's mouth dropped and her eyes filled with tears. She felt like she'd had the breath knocked out of her. "I ... I ... thought ..." is all she can get get out before the tears start to fall. Reyes moves over beside the bed and reaches out to comfort her. "I was so sure," Scully says. "Dana, don't take this the wrong way," Reyes tells her. "I was SO looking forward to him taking us home. I thought he wanted to be a part of our lives -- I guess I was wrong!" she says as she looks away. "Dana, don't torture yourself. That man is MAD about you!" "Then why did he leave?" she asks angrily. "I don't know, but I know it had to be important because I'm sure he'd rather be with you." Scully shakes her head. "I can't and I won't get my hopes up again. He's been doing this ever since he was returned -- on again, off again. It just hurts too damn much when I'm let down!" She drops her head to her hands. "Why do I feel like this? I never planned to want anything more from him. I knew he was terrified of being a father. I never expected ..." "But now you do, right?" Scully shakes her head slowly. "Not so much expect as want want desperately!" "Dana, tell him how you feel. I know I haven't known either of you very long, but it seems like you both dance around the most important thing of all -- how you FEEL!" "I ... I can't! I can't risk our friendship. It's too important to me!" "What if you're not risking anything? What if it only makes things better?" Scully looks at her in surprize. "I think you missed your calling Agent Reyes. Ever thought about a career in relationship therapy?" Reyes chuckles. "Can't say that I have, it's just so obvious that you two have a very special relationship. I'd hate to see you lose that." "So would I," Scully says, realizing for the first time that Reyes just might be right. "All I'm trying to say is give him a chance, okay? I think things'll work out the way you want them to." Scully shakes her head. After Mulder talks to Maggie Scully and tells her about her new grandson, he headed straight for his apartment. For the last hour, he had been searching his apartment. He knew it was here. Finally, at the back of the night table drawer, he found the burgundy velvet box he'd been searching for. He opened the box and inside lay his grandmother's diamond ring. He had showed it to Scully when he'd first brought it back from the Vineyard. She had told him then how beautiful she thought it was. Well, now it would be hers. If she decided she wanted something else,' he'd get that for her too. He would get her anything she wanted. He remembered the look on her face when she'd seen the ring. She thought it was beautiful! He had told her how close he was to his grandmother. She was the only person in his family who ever really showed that she loved him. She was very special to him and so was this ring. There was nobody in this world that he would rather give it to. He took the ring and put it in the pocket of his leather jacket. Then he headed to the bathroom to take a shower. Now that he has finally made up his mind, he wonders why he didn't do this long ago. When he gets out of the shower, he puts on his button-fly jeans. He noticed Scully's reaction the last time he wore them. She tried to hide it, but she couldn't seem to take her eyes off of his crotch. He had enough trouble hiding his constant arousal when he was around her. It became almost impossible when he realized that she was aroused as well. Then he grabs his gray tee-shirt. Before he leaves the apartment, he makes sure that the box is still in his jacket pocket. He gets in his car with a silly grin on his face and heads for Scully's apartment. When he arrives at Scully door, he hears voices inside, so he lets himself in. As he moves towards her bedroom, he spots the Gunmen and they spot him. They quickly say their goodbyes to Scully and come out to speak to him. They can't figure out how he managed to find them. Not interested in getting into the details, -- he had more important things on his mind at the minute -- he tells them that he saw a light and he followed it. They take the hint that he really doesn't want to talk about it right now and they leave. Mulder can never remember feeling SO nervous. He takes a deep breath and steps into the bedroom doorwqay. "Hi! How's everybody doing?" he asks as he moves further into the room. "We're doing just fine," Scully replies as she moves towards him with the baby in her arms. When she is standing in front of him, she slips the baby into his arms. Mulder looks down at him lovingly. He feels the emotion clogging his throat, but he is finally able to ask, "What did you name him, Scully?" "William ... after your father," she says. He looks up at her and smiles. Suddenly a cloud floats across Scully's face. "I just don't understand why they didn't take him." "I don't understand that either," he says. "Maybe he wasn't what they thought he was. "Ever since I first knew I was pregnant, I have been afraid afraid of the truth ... of how and why." Mulder puts his finger under her chin and lifts her face until she is looking at him. "The truth we both know," he says. Unwilling to take another chance and only end up getting hurt again, she looks up at him and says, "Which is what?" He looks deeply into her eyes and then leans down and kisses her. At first she is shocked, but it only takes a moment for her to respond. When he goes to pull away, her hand goes up to the back of his head and pulls him back to her. When William starts to fuss, they pull apart breathlessly and just look at each other. After a moment, Scully takes William. "He's probably tired. I'll go and put him down," she says. She stops at the door and, without even turning around, she says, "Please don't leave!" He is very tempted to do just that. His nerves are all on edge. The thing that really keeps him there is the simple fact that she kissed him back. When Scully returns several minutes later, her room is empty. She is scared and angry at the same time. She hurries out to the living room to get her cell phone and call him. She can't decide if she wants to beg him to come back or tell him to never come back. When she steps into the living room and sees him, the anger and fear drain right out of her. As he hears her footsteps, he turns and looks at her. There is a look in his eyes that she doesn't think she's ever seen there before, but she isn't sure if it's what she thinks (and prays) it is. She goes around the end of the couch and sits down beside him. "I think we need to talk," she says, not even looking at him. "Scully ..." She turns to look at him and their eyes lock. Right now there is no one else in the world except the two of them. They remain like that for several minutes. Mulder knows he should say something ... explain his actions, but the words seem to allude him. Their silent communication has always worked better than verbal, so he takes a chance. He leans over and kisses her again. Gently at first, but the passion soon starts to rocket out of control. Scully is the first to pull away, although reluctantly. By the look on her face, Mulder knows he didn't misread her. They look into each other's eyes for several minutes before either of them so much as moves a muscle. "Scully ..." Scully cuts him off short. She is tired of playing the game they have been playing for pretty close to nine years now. Now is the time for action. "I want ... " Now it is Mulder's turn to cut her off. His nerves are wound so tight, they feel like they're going to break. "Scully, before you say anything, there's something I want to ask you. Something I should have asked you a very long time ago." He reaches out and takes her hand in his. "Neither one of us has ever come out and said how we felt, but I know what you mean to me and I'm pretty sure I know how you feel too." With that he reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out the ring box. "I would like to know if you would do me the honor of becoming my wife," he says as he bends and gently kisses her hand. Then he opens the box in his hand and shows her the ring. She gasps when she sees the ring he has in his hand. She recognizes it immediately. It's the ring that belonged to his grandmother. She knew how much that ring meant to him. Obviously she meant a lot to him too. She tried her best to think of some very eloquent words to answer his question, but finally decided that simple was the best. "Yes!" she said as she reached up to caress his face. "I would like nothing more than to be your wife." Mulder took the ring and slipped it on her finger and then pulled her into his arms and kissed her long and deep. After a few minutes, Scully got up and took him by the hand into her bedroom. They slowly undressed and slipped into bed together. He took her in his arms and held her close -- skin to skin. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world -- there was nothing inbetween them anymore -- physically or emotionally! When Mulder began a trail of kisses down her neck to her collar bone, Scully pulled back slightly. "Mulder, we can't ..." "I know," he tells her. "But there are many other ways to pleasure each other.' She smiles up at him. "You are so incredible, you knkow that!" "I know you don't think I have any patience, but believe me I can wait as long as necessary when I KNOW it will be the most incredible event of my life." "I don't know about that," she says smiling. "But the thought is definitely appreciated!" He bends down and kisses her softly behind her ear and then gently laps at her skin down the side of her neck. She can't believe how aroused she is from a few simple kisses. God the next few weeks were going to be pure torture. "Scully, I love you. I have for so long I almost can't remember when I didn't.' "I love you too, Mulder. I know now that I could never even think of being with anyone else. You are everything to me -- you and our son!" she says as she leans over and kisses him again. He pulls her into his arms and holds her close. "Tonight, I just want to know how it feels to fall asleep with you in my arms and how it feels to wake up the same way." "I can't think of anything I would like better either." The End
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