Title: The First Day of the Rest of our Lives
Author: Miranda
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Chris Carter.

Summary: Continuation of the finale. Mulder and Scully go in search of William, and the truth.

"Maybe there's hope." I heard his whispered words as loud as if he'd announced them from the rooftop. I looked at him, wondering exactly what he meant. No matter what he intended, whether to calm my inner worries he probably knew were there, or something else, the words were like a soothing song to me. They quieted my spirit so much, in fact, that I began to feel very sleepy. I saw in glancing at him that he, too, was exhausted. I allowed myself to relax for about the first time in nine years. It was an easy thing to do in the center of his strong arms. I'd never noticed before - just how solid and strong this man who held me really was. As they do every night just before I drift to sleep, my thoughts turned to little William.

I wondered what he was doing, and where he was. I realized with the lump developing in my throat how much I missed my son. Having Mulder next to me once again had made it a little easier, since the big empty space that he had left was once again full. But for William there was a big space as well. He was my only son. The only child I would ever bear - the culmination of so many prayers and dreams for me. It was only after I returned home childless that night that I realized that William would not be much safer away from me than with me. Why had I thought I could outsmart those who would seek his life? I had probably only put innocent people in danger. And for what? To be separated from my child, and to take away Mulder's child? I had been a fool. My desperation had robbed me of my senses. Tears of regret flooded my eyes as they do most every night. I stifled a sob, trying to be quiet, but Mulder heard it and opened his weary eyes.

"Dana?" he whispered with concern as he pulled me still closer. I tried to regain control of my emotions.

"I'm sorry," I sputtered. "I didn't mean to wake you. It's just that right before I go to sleep... I think of him."

That did it. Sharing my secret pain with the one I loved so dearly was enough to push me over the edge, and I began to cry with great grief. His tears threatened to spill over as well as his hands traveled to my face, to wipe the tears so gently away.

"Oh, Dana, I'm so sorry I did this to you." His words surprised me.

"You didn't do this, Mulder," I replied with a sniff. His eyes bore deeply into my own as his hands smoothed my hair.

"I did. I've done so much to cause you grief. If I could take it all away, I would."

"Mulder, I just told you that I'd do it all again. I'm proud to be part of your crusade. That's you. That's who you are. You wouldn't be Mulder if you were anything less. That pain comes to my life and to William's is our willing sacrifice to belong to you....... because we love you." my last words were spoken hesitantly, and I was embarrassed to feel my face flush. How, after nine years of close relationship, could I still feel like such a schoolgirl with him?

He smiled at my discomfort. "I'm sorry, Scully. I shouldn't have made you be the first one to say that. But how can you say William loves me? He's just a baby. He can't understand why people have been trying to hurt him since the day he was born. He can't comprehend why in the world his loving mother would be there one minute and then gone the next."

"Neither can his mother." I interjected, and tears formed once more in my eyes. He held me close.

"Scully, I know you did what you did because you had no choice. But I don't think he's any safer with the people he's with. He's probably only endangering them."

"I know. I've come to see that."

"I think it's clear what our next assignment is." He spoke with certainty. My eyes went to his, searching for the words I hoped to hear. What he said was certainly what I wanted to hear, but not what I had expected him to say.

"I love you, Dana." his smile returned, and he kissed my lips very lightly and tenderly, as if to prove it.

"I love you." I responded, my words slightly slurred.

"We're going to find him," he said suddenly in determination. "He belongs with us."

"The court might have something else to say about that. I signed legal, binding documents." I shook my head in hopelessness.

"I didn't." he reminded me.

"But they would make you take a paternity test, Mulder." I, in turn, reminded him.

"So?" he chuckled. "I've got DNA. Let them take it."

"You still believe he's your son. Even after all we've come to discover."

"Especially now. Dana, if there's one thing you've taught me in these past nine years, it's that faith in something bigger than us - faith in God, can result in miracles. II know what you've told me. About William. And I'm not saying he's not special. But I do believe I'm his father. Don't you remember - that night you came back from the doctor, saying it hadn't worked? Have you forgotten what happened next?" he recalled.

My face blushed once more. "I don't think I could forget, Mulder. I guess all along I have considered him yours. While you were gone, I would just lay with him and stare at his face. I realized one day that it was because I could see you. It's just been so confusing."

"I know. We need to sleep. Tomorrow we are going to take care of a few things, then we'll begin the search."

"What are we going to take care of?" I asked curiously. His eyebrows raised, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

"We have to go to the store and get you a new outfit." There was a long pause before I answered. "Why's that?" my heart began to thump wildly.

"Because you can't get married in your robe."

The next day dawned just as dreary and rainy as the night before. I awoke with a start, eager to jump from the bed. Mulder was still sound asleep. I rolled out from under his arms, only to realize it was six a.m. I sighed and tried to return to sleep, but my mind would not have it. I eventually rose and went to shower.

I took great care with the preparation of my appearance that morning, though I knew the rain would probably spoil it the moment I left the motel room. But I didn't care. I wanted the first thing Mulder saw to be my face. I hoped it to look somewhat attractive in case his words last night had been spoken in haste, and he might wake up with cold feet.

I need not have worried, though. He rose and came to me in the bathroom, his arms going around my waist from behind me and his lips touching my neck tenderly.

"Morning, gorgeous. Mind if I get your phone number?" he teased.

"Well, I could give it to you, but I'm not there much." I played along.

"I always seem to end up following this insane man around the world who makes me forget that I should have a life."

"Who is he? I'll fight him for you. No man should ever take advantage of you." he breathed deeply, his tender kisses continuing upward on my neck, causing a great warmth to build deep within me. We stood for a moment in the silence, hearing only each other's breathing and the rain.

"You are going to have a life today, Dana." he promised me. "If I never give you another decent day in our lives, today will be a resplendent memory."

"Resplendent? I like the sound of that." I turned and accepted his kiss, which he cut short, embarrassed of his morning breath. I smiled and assured him I had not even noticed.

"Dana, you won't mind - if it's not perfect, will you?" he turned as he picked up his toothbrush.

"It will be perfect, as long as it's you and me." I encouraged him.

"No one we love will be there." He reminded me.

"We will be there." I replied.

"I don't even have a ring." His eyes fell.

"There's a department store on the corner." I shrugged as I dressed in my dirty outfit from the day before.

"Dana, I don't have any money." His look now was almost comical. I chuckled.

"I have a little."

"I do have money," he corrected himself. "It's just that if I tried to get to it a million helicopters would fly out of the sky and blow us to Kingdom come."

"We'll figure something out. Don't worry." I kissed his scratchy cheek and went into the other room.

Fifteen minutes later we were in the department store buying a simple cream colored dress and two gold bands. I wasn't too sure about the dress. I felt much more comfortable in suits, but Mulder insisted that I looked like an angel, and that we weren't going to have much use for our old ways now anyway. When we went to check out, the total came to $145.21. I handed the clerk three fifty dollar bills. She eyed us curiously. Mulder stared right back.

"We're getting married today." He informed her, his eyes never blinking.

"I see." The large black woman nodded. "Have a nice day."

Our next stop was the Roswell Courthouse. We filled out our application, then stood before the judge as he led us in our vows. It was certainly not the way I had ever pictured my wedding, but it was fitting. It was fitting for what our lives had meant for these past years - and what they would continue to mean in the future. We were on the run. We probably always would be. We were also on a quest. That, too, might never change. That was what I was to accept in marrying Mulder.

"Do you promise to love and cherish, in sickness, health, for better or worse, richer for poorer, till death do you part?" the words struck me as I spoke my assent. This was a mere formality. The things we were promising the judge were things we had been doing without question for nine years. Mulder caught my eyes and we smiled. Little did this sour old judge know that we had already been through unimaginable odds together. We had endured so much grief together, so many arguments, so many dangerous paths we had taken. We had bore a son together. We had lived through a long and trying separation.

Mulder felt the need to speak this to the judge as he was asked to give his agreement.

"I have been. I don't plan on stopping." His clear, sparkling hazel eyes twinkled as he smiled at me. The judge did not seem that impressed, and merely continued the ceremony.

"By the power vested in me by the state of New Mexico, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride, then sign on the dotted line."

Mulder kissed me somewhat passionately for a courtroom, then bent over to sign the certificate.

"Signing my life away." He sighed, then handed me the pen. Two secretaries signed as our witnesses.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Mulder." one of the secretaries said with a smile and leaned over to give me a small hug. "I hope you'll be very happy together."

"That would be a nice change, wouldn't it?" Mulder said under his breath, looking sheepish when I glared at him.

When we got to the car, Mulder sat behind the wheel for a long quiet moment. I watched him inquisitively. Finally I spoke.

"Mulder, what's the matter?" I prompted him. He turned to me with an amused look.

"Dana, I have no earthly idea where to go from here."

I began to chuckle, and soon we were both laughing heartily. It felt good. At first it seemed wrong to be happy, in the face of all that was happening, but then it felt so completely right. We could laugh in the faces of the enemy. They weren't going to win. We were.

"Do you have any more money?" he asked after a moment. I smiled.

"I'm way ahead of you. I've got about five thousand dollars in cash. John had me clear out my bank account before we left that night. He figured we would need it to get out of the country."

"You're a good woman," he said, with a smile, but completely serious. "I love you, Scully."

"Mulder." I corrected. He gave me a strange look as he pulled out of the parking lot.

"Yeah?"

"Mulder. I'm not Scully anymore. I'm Mulder now." I reminded him. He chuckled once again.

"Now that could get a little confusing." he pursed his lips in thought. I laughed.

"Well, considering neither of us are going to be using our own names for awhile, I suppose it will be all right." he decided.

Mulder drove us to a small bed and breakfast on the outskirts of Roswell. It was a quaint little house, and the couple that owned it were sweet. After a leisurely dinner, we retired to our little room with the frilly curtains and flowery bedspread.

"Is this nice?" Mulder asked hopefully. I nodded at him.

"It's wonderful." I replied. He took a step closer to me.

"I do like that dress, Dana. It shows your figure. You always tried to hide your figure behind those business suits. I knew it must be in there somewhere." His hands went to my waist. The look of love in his eyes was enough to take my breath away. It was surreal. This was Mulder before me. Mulder, who had been my partner, my enemy, my friend, and now my husband. Mulder, whom I had assumed to be so distracted by his campaign that he had no room for the baser desires of life, was a normal man. And the look in his eye told me that he needed me.

"I'm sorry, Scully, I don't mean to be too eager." He apologized as his hands slipped inside the back of my dress. "It's just been such a long time, and the only other time I was able to hold you in such a way... well, it was different."

"Yes, it was." I agreed. I lifted my lips to his, kissing him with all my heart, hoping he would sense my own anticipation, my own interest in knowing him completely.

"I belong to you, Fox Mulder. Spirit, mind, and body. I'm yours, for the rest of our lives." I whispered the words close to his ear, and his breath escaped in a soft gasp as he pulled me closer. What followed was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. Physical gratification, augmented by the purity of our deliberate love. When it was over and we lay together in perfect harmony, his lips next to my ear, he spoke to me in the whispers of a lover.

"If I had known that such ecstasy was possible, I would have married you the day I met you." he sighed.

"I don't believe it would have been there then, Mulder. What we have has been simmering for years. That's what you feel. This night is the culmination of so much tension exploding in a rapture of senses."

"That's deep," he said after a moment. We soon fell asleep, and slept soundly until the morning light.

The Mission

When I awoke the next morning, Mulder was standing at the window. His forehead was creased with concentration.

"Mulder?" I spoke sleepily, causing him to look at me.

"Good morning, Dana," he said with distraction in his voice. After a moment he seemed to rethink his greeting. He smiled in my direction.

"My beautiful wife."

"Good morning." I smiled back at him. "What are you thinking about?" I asked, though I was already suspicious of the answer.

"I'm thinking of our son." He spoke the words I expected to hear. "I'm trying to come up with a plan."

"We have no idea where he is." I sighed. "It's like finding a needle in a haystack."

"Well, it's a good thing we've been investigating impossible scenarios for so long. This is what we do best. Our own personal X-File." He nodded.

"We need a place to start." I rose, pulling the robe loosely about me as I joined him at the window. "And I know where. Albany, New York. Children's services."

"New York?" his head turned in question.

"It seemed like the last place anyone would suspect. Plane, or car?"

"Plane would be cheaper and quicker, if we can get online. Maybe the couple who live here have internet service."

"I'll check on that." I reached up to give him a kiss, then went to shower and dress.

Two hours later we left the airport in our economy seats on a plane to Albany. Excitement built within me at the prospect of seeing William again.

"Tell me everything you told them." Mulder instructed me quietly.

"I gave them my name, but I asked that the rest of my identification be anonymous. I told them that I was a single mother who was afraid I couldn't raise my son on my own. The social worker gave me three sets of parents to choose from. I wasn't given any names or information, only their profiles. The couple I chose were very deeply religious, they had been married for thirteen years, unable to have their own children, very interested in having a family. The best thing about their profile was that they lived way out in the country, miles from civilization."

"But you have no idea where?"

"None." I shook my head. Mulder nodded, then squeezed my hand.

"We'll get our boy back." He nodded.

"That poor couple. What I've put them through." I looked out the window.

"Who knows, maybe they'll understand. This might not even need to go to the legal system."

"I hope not. That could be dangerous."

"We'll play our cards very carefully, Dana. We know what we're doing."

Two days later we sat in the office of Albany Children's Services. We decided the best way to get our information would be with the truth.

Soon we sat in front of the same lady that had taken William from me not two months before.

"Dana. It's good to see you again. I trust you are well."

"Yes, actually, Mrs. Allen, we are. Thank you for seeing us."

"Of course. What can I help you with?"

I paused, knowing the response my words were going to bring.

"Mrs. Allen, I gave my son up to you two months ago because I was terrified of the prospect of raising him on my own. Not because I was unfit to be a mother, but because I was afraid for his life."

"Is this the father?" she turned to Mulder. He nodded, putting his arm around me.

"My wife and I were recently reunited after a long and difficult circumstance that was beyond our control. I was very heartbroken to learn that my son had been given away, though I understood my wife's desperation. And although we cannot promise him ultimate safety with us, he is not safe without us, either, and the family he has been placed with is even more in danger than anyone. There are greater things than you can imagine at work in this situation, ma'am."

"You understand that Dana signed away all legal rights to this child." Mrs. Allen reminded us.

"I didn't sign anything." Mulder pointed out. "But more than anything, we'd just like to talk to the couple that has taken him in. They should be appraised of the situation they have unknowingly gotten themselves in the middle of."

For a long moment the woman considered us carefully. "My standard answer is absolutely not. But I am going to make an allowance in this case, because your story is too incredible to be made up. I'm going to call them and ask if I may give them your number. Whether or not they feel it is necessary to talk to you is entirely up to them."

She asked us to leave the room while she made the call. We sat nervously in the waiting room for fifteen minutes. Suddenly Mrs. Allen appeared in the doorway.

"They say they are going to consider and pray over your request. They have your cell phone number, and they will call by tomorrow if they decide it is the right thing to do."

For the next twenty four hours I held Mulder's cell phone to me, willing it to ring. I had almost given up on them by the next evening, but around seven in the evening, the cell phone suddenly began to ring. I found that my voice wouldn't work, and I quickly handed the phone to Mulder.

"Hello?" he answered, his own voice wavering with emotion. His jaw clenched as he listened to the male voice on the line.

"Thank you, sir. Yes, sir. Goodbye." Mulder pressed the end button on the phone and turned to me, his eyes unreadable.

"They live in an old farmhouse outside Buffalo. They are expecting us tomorrow."

My arms flew around Mulder as I cried out in relief and anticipation.

"Oh, Mulder! Our baby! We are going to see our son!"

I slept little that night. Mulder held me, speaking to me in his soothing voice until he fell prey to exhaustion. Early the next morning, we left the motel in Albany and headed for Buffalo.

The house took awhile to find. It was certainly in the middle of nowhere. But eventually we were pulling into the long gravel driveway. I could see a female face in the window, and a stab of guilt shot through me.

"Oh, Mulder. What have I done to these people?" I shook my head in sorrow. He grabbed my hand.

"Don't beat yourself up. You're doing the best you can."

We made our way to the porch steps. A tall, middle-aged man stood at the screen door. My heart began to beat a mile a minute. I clung to Mulder's arm like a frightened child. I almost felt as if I might faint at the thought of seeing my baby again. I listened for his cry, but heard nothing.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mulder, I presume?" the man spoke.

"Yes." Mulder answered simply. The man opened the door and met us on the porch, shaking our hands somewhat awkwardly.

"You're William's parents?" he continued, his arms going across his chest. I could detect hesitation, as was expected, but not the hatred I had assumed we would face.

"Yes." Mulder answered once again. "I'm Fox , and this is Dana."

"Were you telling us the truth? Is that little one in danger?" he asked directly. There was no hesitation in Mulder's answer.

"He is our son. Unfortunately, that fact puts him in danger in itself."

"Is that why you gave him up?"

"Yes." I joined the conversation. "But it was foolish of me. It was an act of pure desperation. I was sure he was going to be killed, and I had no idea where his father was."

"But you're back together." The man stated the obvious. "Why were you apart?" "I was trying to protect Dana. That's why I left her and William."

"Strange family, if you don't mind my saying so." the man replied noncommittally.

"Yes, sir. We realize that."

"Well, why don't you come in and sit down. We'd like to hear your story."

The moment I entered the room I saw the wife standing in front of the window. She regarded me with a curious expression, but with not a trace of bitterness I had expected to see in her eyes. She walked over to me and took my hand.

"I'm glad you're here." she spoke, her voice sad, but genuine. "From the moment he came to us, I knew he could never truly belong to us. I could tell he had been loved beyond reason. I knew you would come."

Tears gathered in my eyes and I found myself in her embrace. When I stood back, I looked around the room.

"Where is he?" I asked anxiously.

"He's sleeping. In his room," she said, pointing down the hall. "Come."

She led us into the room where William lay, peacefully sleeping in the crib. I saw that she had taken great care in decorating and furnishing the baby room for my son. I could tell how much having him here meant to them. A felt a stab of guilt. Then my eyes fell on my infant, and all else was forgotten. I gasped, then ran to him and gathered him into my arms. He was startled awake, and began to fuss, then with recognition in his sweet baby eyes, he rewarded me with a lopsided grin.

"Hello my sweet William." I greeted him breathlessly. Mulder leaned close to us and ran a finger down William's cheek.

"This is your Daddy." I introduced the baby. Mulder's eyes were moist as he stared at the child.

"Hello, my son." He whispered. I allowed him to take the baby into his arms, and he turned to the couple.

"I'm sorry." he apologized, for what no one was certain. "I haven't seen him since he was three days old."

The couple nodded in understanding, then backed out of the room and shut the door. I was amazed at how generous and kind they had been to us.

"Mulder, these people- there's something so different about them. I would be..."

"I know what you mean." He nodded.

We joined them a couple minutes later in their living room, sitting down across from them as they sat, hand in hand.

"I have to say, I don't know if I would be as understanding as you are." I told them honestly. "You have every right to hate us."

"We have no right to hate anyone." The man disagreed. "We try to think of it as the Bible teaches. That it's always a good idea to treat someone else the way you'd like to be treated."

"We tried for ten years to have our own children." The wife added. "We prayed, and hoped and cried in our pursuit of having a family. Then we discovered that I am unable to bear children. But if I were to give birth to a child, even if I had given him up in hard circumstances, I'm sure I would go to the end of the earth to get him back."

"I am barren as well." I replied. "I never thought I would have a child. William was a very unexpected and beautiful miracle."

All of us were quiet for a moment. Mulder smiled at me and set William between us on the couch.

"My name is Kate. This is my husband Bob." Kate introduced themselves.

"I'm glad he was here with you." I told them sincerely. "I can see that he was well taken care of."

"It was a joy to have him here. But he does belong to you. I can see that so clearly." Kate watched William as he played with Mulder's keys.

"May I ask..." Bob began, but didn't know for sure what to say. "Why is William in danger? Who could possibly want to hurt this child?"

The Truth

Mulder and I looked at each other, hardly knowing where to begin or what we should tell them. Finally he shrugged and turned to them.

"This is the part where I tell you the truth and you think I'm crazy." Mulder leaned back and sighed.

"Well, I tend to be a pretty good judge of character. Why don't you try me?" Bob continued without hesitation. Mulder shrugged again.

"Okay. I guess I should start with my childhood. My father was part of a conspiracy involving the invasion of extraterrestrial life. As human collateral, he turned over my sister to the aliens. I saw her being taken from our home and from that moment on I vowed I would find out the truth about what happened to her. I came to the FBI out of college, and I worked to open an investigative unit on files of cases that were labeled X for unsolved. Most had to do with paranormal phenomenon. Dana was assigned as a level-headed scientist to spy on me and give them a reason to close down my work. Together we have seen so much that cannot be refuted. There is alien life that is planning to overtake our world in a matter of years. It has been my crusade, if you will, to make this known, to warn people about the things our government doesn't want us to know. As a result, I am a target. There are many who want me dead, and they wouldn't mind taking Dana out with me."

As the room went silent, I watched their faces. They were surprised, but somehow their reaction was different than I expected. They exchanged a knowing glance, then looked back at us. I decided to finish the story and answer the original question.

"I was taken, and experimented on, very early in our partnership. We learned later that they had taken all of my ova, which is why I was barren. Mulder found where they were storing it later, and brought it to me, and we tried to conceive a child through in vitro fertilization. I was told it didn't work. Shortly after that, I found out I was pregnant.

"We have been told many different things about this child. We truly believe that he is our son, but there are many among the aliens and the conspiracy who believe him to be much more than that. I had so many scares with him right from the night of his birth. I gave him up because I couldn't imagine how I was ever going to be able to protect him from all the evil that is out to get him."

"Oh, Dana," Kate interjected with obvious compassion in her voice. "What parent can promise that to a child? Is that really why we become parents? To spare our children the pain and fear that life will require of anyone? Only God can protect William from the forces of this world. He doesn't mean for you to do any more than you are capable of."

"I'm sorry," I looked down, somewhat uncomfortable. "I just don't know if I even believe in God anymore. If He's there, He sure doesn't seem to care too much about what's going on down here."

Their response was again a surprise. Both were smiling peacefully.

"Dana, Who do you think God is?" Kate asked.

I was a little taken aback by her comment.

"Uh, well, I'm Catholic, so I guess I believe that He is the creator of the world."

"How do aliens fit into that belief?" she asked, not mockingly, but in a manner that told me she truly wanted my honest answer.

"I don't know... I guess I never thought about it. When I was in church, I believed that God created the world. When I was at work, I believed that the world evolved. But then I discovered a ship - a spaceship in Africa that had the Bible, the Koran, all kinds of text all over it. So I began to wonder if what we had always thought was God was these aliens who are coming to destroy us - who began our world millions of years ago."

"Can both of those ideas be right?" Bob asked suddenly. I paused.

"No." I finally answered. "And I have more proof for the latter."

"Is it proof, or is it deception?" Kate posed.

"You could say that the deception lies in the ideas of the Christian God." Mulder offered. "That the aliens wanted us to have that false sense of security before they came and destroyed us and took over our world."

They seemed untroubled by his statement.

"Mr. Mulder, tell me about this security. If you were to die today, what would happen to you?" Bob asked directly.

"I have no earthly idea." Mulder shrugged honestly. "I've been searching for the truth so long, and I have no idea."

"You can be comforted in your search." Kate smiled. "Christ said that anyone who looks for the truth with his whole heart will find it, and that truth will set you free."

"So far all my search for the truth has done is trap me." Mulder shook his head.

"What makes you say that? When you started on your journey, what did you have? Who was with you?" Kate asked pointedly.

"I didn't have much of anything. I was alone."

"And now?" she smiled.

"I have a wife and son." He nodded, seeing her point. "I set out to find my sister, and I ended up with a family of my own."

"Does that make you trapped?" Bob put an arm around his own wife. "I know that as for me, I couldn't live without this lady. She's the other half of me. She takes care of me, both emotionally and physically. Loving her sets me free."

There was a long silence. Finally Mulder nodded, with a tender look toward me and William. "It's the same for me."

"So where does the freedom of love fit into your story?"

Both of us sat in silence, unable to answer the question. It was something that hadn't even occurred to us.

"Now I'm not going to sit here and try to tell you there's no aliens that are planning on taking over the planet. That very well may be. But what I want to know, is what would happen to you if you died this very day." Bob spoke assuredly.

"We would go to Heaven." I spoke up, not because I was sure of it, but because I believed it was the answer they were looking for.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. So the invasion comes, you die, and you're standing before God at the gates of Heaven. He asks 'Why should I let you in?' What would be your answer?"

"I've spent most of my life on a hunt for evil." Mulder spoke up. "I did my best to try to expose the truth. I died for my cause."

"And do you know what He would say to that?" Bob responded gently. "He would have to say, 'Well, Fox , I've already hunted the evil, I've already exposed the truth, and I've already died for the cause. So why should I let you in?"

"Because we believed in Him." I spoke up.

"The Bible says that even the demons believe." Kate answered quietly. I shook my head.

"Then how can anyone get in?" I asked in an almost desperate voice, frustrated at their words.

"I'm very glad you asked that question." Bob leaned forward and picked up a well-worn Bible from the table. He opened it and smiled at us in the most comforting way, though his words made me anything but comfortable.

"Heaven... is a free gift, available to anyone. It cannot be earned or deserved. The Bible says that it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, so that no one can boast."

"But that doesn't make sense." I argued, unable to look him in the eye. "It goes against everything I was ever taught about God. God hates sin, He has no sin, He won't accept it. How can you say that He offers Heaven as a gift to anyone? Any old sinner?"

"Dana, let me tell you my story. Up till about fifteen years ago, My life was about drinking. I was an alcoholic in the worst sense of the word. I did everything I could to get out from under my addiction, but it was no use. I was lost. Then this precious lady here came to me, and told me that there was Someone who loved me so much that He had died for me. That He was risen and willing and able to free me from my life of drunkenness. I thought that I had to get control before God would have anything to do with me. I was completely wrong! There was no way to get control without Him in my life. I had to come to the place where I realized I was completely helpless without Him."

"Think of a wheelbarrow." Kate spoke up eagerly. "A wheelbarrow on a tightrope over the Niagara Falls. Think of Jesus Christ as the owner of the wheelbarrow. He's saying that He has the ability to get you across those falls in that wheelbarrow on that tightrope. Now, if you're going to get to the other side, what do you have to do?"

"I think I would probably take a boat." Mulder quipped, but he shook his head with a smile. "No, you would have to get in the wheelbarrow, lie very still and trust that He knew what He was doing."

"In other words, you do nothing except get in." Bob rephrased. "It's the same with Heaven, with the ultimate truth you've been searching for. You've investigated things that others think are science fiction, right?"

We both nodded.

"And just because they aren't popular beliefs, does that make them wrong?" Bob inquired, knowing what our answer would be. We shook our heads.

"Well, I'm asking you to think seriously about this, as you would any of your cases. God promises that if you look for Him, you'll find Him. He IS truth, my friends. He is everything you're searching for. He is the only answer you need. And He has made the Way in the sacrifice of His Son for your sin. And the power that raised His Son from the dead is the same power of His Spirit that He wants you to have to complete your life and your mission that He has given you." Bob's voice had grown very soft, very reverent. I could almost see the Spirit he spoke of emanating from their faces. I looked at Mulder. He was thoughtful; pensive.

"What about the aliens?" Mulder asked quietly. He did not mean it as a challenge. His voice was solemn as he spoke. Bob nodded.

"There is an answer. Whether the force you are speaking of is an elaborate scheme of the devil himself, whether it is something else, I can't say. I have no knowledge of the things you've spoken of. But I do know that Satan is called the Father of Lies. He is a master at twisting the truth and creating deception. It would delight him if he were to be able to create such a panic that you lost all faith in the loving God you always supposed was there. But you can't know of that battle with the evil one until you have unlocked the door. The key is faith. You must allow God to work in your heart to be able to trust Him to teach you the truth. Only when you surrender yourself completely to Him through Christ will you find what you seek."

As he spoke, Kate went to the bookcase and pulled out a small black leather Bible.

"This was my father's. I want you to have it. I want you to read it. Everything you need to know for this life and the next is in this Word. It's all you need for the journey."

"Sure could have used that nine years ago." Mulder sighed, but he reached out to take the book from her outstretched hand.

"I'm sorry we've taken so much of your time. We should go." I glanced at my watch, surprised at the time that had passed.

"Please don't go. Please stay with us." Kate protested.

"We don't want to endanger you any further." Mulder stood. Bob shook his head.

"There is no danger. This place is protected. I promise you no harm will come to you within these walls."

That night as Mulder and I lay in the guest bedroom, my thoughts raced. The things they had said seem ridiculous on one hand, and yet strangely they seemed like a truth I had been trying to understand my whole life. The unfamiliar territory scared me, though, and I tried to push the thoughts from my mind. When I looked at Mulder, who was on his back, staring out the window, I could see his mind was on the conversation as well.

"Mulder?" I whispered in the darkness. He didn't look away from the window.

"I don't know, Scully," his reverie had caused him to return to his old habits. I smiled at the name. He caught my amusement and looked at me, smiling in return.

"Dana, I don't know what to think. It just doesn't seem, after everything we've been through, that the truth could really be so simple."

I had no answer, and so I remained quiet. Eventually both of us drifted off to sleep.

It was in the middle of the night, as the house slept peacefully, that Mulder suddenly sat straight up in bed, calling out in an fervent voice.

"I believe!"

My eyes opened quickly, and I almost reached for my gun on the night stand. Mulder caught my arms and turned me to him as we both sat up in the bed.

"Scully, you won't believe what I just saw!" his face was full of wonder. He leaped from the bed and went to the door, down the hallway to where William was sleeping in the crib. He laughed and went to the child, picking him up and cradling him close to his chest.

"William, I wanted you to be the first to congratulate me." he informed the sleepy baby. "Daddy just found the truth."

Bob and Kate had come out of their room, joining me in the hallway as we watched Mulder in surprise.

"What's going on?" Bob asked drowsily. I shrugged. Mulder turned to me with the biggest smile I had ever seen him wear.

"Dana, I found the truth. It's Him! He came to me."

"Mulder, what are you talking about?" I asked, just a little embarrassed at his actions in the middle of the night when we were guests in someone's home.

"Fox , please tell us what happened." Kate entered the nursery. I heard the touch of eagerness in her voice.

"In my dream I was standing on a mountain. I believe it was the same mountain that I lost Scully on when she was taken in 1994. As I stood there, an enormous spaceship appeared out of nowhere in the night sky above me. I stood, unable to move, as the door opened very slowly and a beam of bright light shone down on me. Figures started coming out of the spaceship. Everyone I ever loved. My parents, my sister, all the friends we've lost along the way. You, Dana. William. All of you were smiling. As if you knew some great secret that I was about to learn. You all circled around me and got down on your knees as the last figure came from the ship. It was Jesus Christ. He was smiling at me as he came closer, then he stopped in front of me."

"Jesus Christ?" I asked incredulously. "Mulder, are you okay?"

"Go on." Bob encouraged him, taking a step into the room. I was the only one left in the hallway.

"He came to me and said 'Fox , I know you seek the truth. It has been revealed to you. There are a great many things I have in store for you and Dana. I have paid the necessary price for your freedom, and your eternal home. You need not worry about tomorrow. Give all of who you are to my care, and I will lead you home. Believe in all that I am, and I will accomplish what you hope for with the evil of this world. I will use you, Fox . I know you have had trouble in this world. But take heart! I have overcome the world!"

"That's a verse of Scripture." Kate smiled. "Did you know? Christ said that in John."

"I told Him I believed Him. I never imagined such a weight could be lifted. I feel so different. I feel so free."

Bob and Kate were chuckling knowingly, nodding their heads in appreciation of his story. Kate wiped tears from her eyes.

"That's why God sent William to us," she stated in understanding. "I knew there was a reason. Who He really meant for us to minister to was William's parents!"

Mulder handed William to Kate and came to me, pulling me into his arms in the strongest hug I'd ever received. I remained somewhat stiff, unsure of what was happening to him. His hands went to my face.

"I know you're uncomfortable now, Dana, but you will see. You're going to understand what's happened. You're going to know Him."

"Mulder, I grew up in the church. I already know who Jesus Christ is." I reminded him, pulling away from him. "Whatever you think you've found, it was just a dream."

"No, Scully." He told me passionately. "This time it's real. This is the end of the road. This is the truth. There is nothing else to know. And until you have the peace that I have, you haven't really known Him."

We stayed at their home for another week after that. Mulder spent most of the time drinking in the words of the Bible and their meanings with Bob and Kate as his ever present teachers. I stayed somewhat in the background, focusing on William, learning the little things about my son I had missed in our time apart. He was still my gentle, happy William. Very sensitive, very loving, very easygoing. I smiled as I saw Mulder in his baby face, smiling at me with big, trusting eyes. He loved me even if I had abandoned him. It was one afternoon as I laid in the open field on a blanket with my sleeping baby that Mulder came to me, a serious look on his face. He sat down next to me, smiling as he ran a hand through William's soft baby hair.

"Where'd he get blonde hair, anyway?" Mulder chuckled. "I can't think of anyone in my family who has blonde hair. You?"

I shook my head. "Melissa's hair was blonde when she was little."

He nodded. "Dana, we need to talk about what we are going to do next."

"Mulder, I have followed you wherever you've gone for nine years. I'm not planning on stopping now. We're a family. Wherever you need to go, we'll go."

"I've been praying about this." he looked off into the distance. "I'm torn. We have things to do. Part of me wants to take you and the baby somewhere safe, and live out the rest of our lives in a comfortable house. I want you to have all the things you gave up to be with me." His voice was sincere as his finger touched my cheek.

"Mulder, we can't do that. Not with what we know. As wonderful as that sounds, we've been given greater responsibilities, and we can't ignore them."

"I can't ignore you, either. You are my wife. You are the love of my life. I have a responsibility to you and to William to care for all your needs."

I gave him an apprehensive look. "You sound like them, Mulder." He smiled.

"What bothers you about what I said?" he asked directly. I thought about it a moment, then shrugged.

"I guess nothing. It's just not a popular notion these days. Women are always demanding to be treated the same as men."

"Well, I don't know about those women, but I need to take care of you. I know you can take care of yourself, I know you're capable of anything I am, but I love you, Dana. I don't want you to have to do everything. You are the one that takes care of us emotionally. You are the one that sees the logical road and points it out to me. You are the one that must reign in my dreams so that they are remotely possible to attain. You've got a big job. I want to do the protecting and providing."

"Deal." I smiled, and his eyes regarded me deeply.

"I never thought it was possible to love you as much as I do in this very moment." His voice became very low, almost a whisper. "I've taken you for granted for so many years, Dana. Every little thing about you takes my breath away, now that my mind is clear to see it. I'm so thankful that God has given you to me. I will spend every day I have left on this earth loving you."

"And I you." I barely found the voice to respond to him. My heart beat faster as he came close to me, touching his lips to mine in the most reverent and delicate manner. When he pulled back a few minutes later, I sighed and shook my head.

"You're so different, Mulder." I admitted. "I never thought I would see you - with such peace. Your heart has always been so troubled. You seem so calm."

"I know the truth now," he explained with an easy smile. "I'm not afraid anymore."

"I want that." The words tumbled from my mouth before I could stop them. Tears appeared in my eyes. I half expected him to launch into a five point explanation complete with Scripture as to how I could have the peace he had. But he only smiled with such love and smoothed my hair.

"You will." He promised, then stood. "We're going to be leaving in the morning. You'll need to talk to Kate and get all of William's things together."

"Where are we going?" I asked him curiously. He shrugged.

"I guess we'll know in the morning," he replied. I smiled.

"The first day of the rest of our lives."

The End