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Title: Sarah Companion: Mother's Day Summary: A busy Mother's Day weekend for Mulder and Sarah. Two busy weekends in a row. First there had been Sarah's birthday party, which he still hadn't quite recovered from; now Mother's Day, and a hastily arranged trip to Boston, were fast approaching. Mulder's life had never been so hectic and he wasn't sure he could keep up with the pace. With all the preparations for the party, Mulder had completely forgotten about Mother's Day until Scully had quietly reminded him, sending him into a minor panic. "What should I do, Scully?" "What do you normally do?" she asked. "Well, I usually send a card and arrange for some flowers to be sent to my Mom," he replied. Despite the strained relationship he'd had with his mother over the years, Mulder still observed the ritual celebrations. Since he had presented Sarah to her, there had been a thaw in relations, and they were both trying hard for the child's sake. Mulder ran a hand through his hair. "What I meant was what do I do about Sarah and Annie? I'm sure Sarah would like to mark the day and remember her mother." "I think you're right, Mulder. I'm sure it would be important to Sarah to mark the day." Although Sarah had taken Scully to her heart, the little girl still thought about and spoke of her mother often. "What do you propose to do?" Mulder pondered silently for a moment, plucking at his bottom lip. "I think we're going to have to make a flying visit to Boston," he answered finally. "Take some flowers up to Annie's grave. Maybe I could squeeze in a visit with my Mom at the same time. She'll be in town visiting friends." "Sounds like a plan, Mulder." Scully was certain that Mrs. Mulder would be delighted to see her son and granddaughter. "Are you going to tell Sarah?" "Not yet - I'll keep it as a surprise." He looked up at his partner. "Would you like to come with us, Scully?" "Any other weekend and you know I'd love to, Mulder, but not this one. There's a family get together and we're taking my mom out for dinner." With their relationship still fairly young, and the amount of time they could spend together as a couple limited, the weekends spent with Mulder were precious to Scully, and if she could have excused herself from the Scully family gathering she would have. She reached out for his hand. "Thanks for asking though." "You're welcome, Scully." He figured she'd be attending some sort of family function, but wanted to extend the invitation anyway. He knew how much his daughter enjoyed Scully's company. "I'll miss you, you know." Mulder gave her a warm smile of affection and kissed the palm of her hand. Scully ran her other hand over his dark hair. "I'll miss you too, Mulder," she answered softly. A couple of phone calls later, Mulder and Sarah's flights and hotel accommodation were arranged. Sarah was her usual chatty self over dinner that night, regaling her father in great detail with everything she'd done at school that day. "Miss Smythe says we're going to make cards for Mother's Day on Friday," she announced. "That's nice, sweetheart," answered Mulder. He smiled as he recalled the card Sarah had made and presented to him at Christmas. He had put it away afterwards, for safe keeping - something to treasure as a reminder of their first Christmas together. Mulder debated whether to tell Sarah about their surprise trip to Boston, and decided not to. He'd leave it a few more days. That night, he waited until his daughter was in bed before calling his mother. Mulder didn't want to run the risk of small ears hearing things they weren't supposed to hear just yet. "Hi, Mom - it's me." "Fox, what's wrong?" Teena Mulder was immediately worried. This wasn't her son's usual night for calling. "Nothing's wrong, Mom. Everything's fine." He heard an audible sigh of relief at the other end. "I was just calling to let you know that Sarah and I will be paying a flying visit to Boston at the weekend. I thought Sarah might like to lay some flowers at Annie's grave, for Mother's Day." "That's nice of you, Fox. I'm sure Sarah must be looking forward to that." "She doesn't know yet. I'm going to surprise her towards the end of the week... you know how excited she gets!" Mulder gave a fond chuckle. "I know you'll be in town and I wondered if you'd like to meet up with us. Sarah would love to see you, and we could have dinner together." "I'd love to, Fox. I'm sure the Nylands won't mind me staying another night." "I don't want to put you to any trouble, Mom..." "It's no trouble, dear. Besides, I want to see my lovely granddaughter. I know it's only been a short time since I saw her last but I'm sure she must have changed since then." "I think Sarah's probably sprouted up another inch or two. She's like a string bean," said Mulder affectionately. "You were just the same, Fox. Sometimes I could swear that you'd grown several inches overnight! You remember those smart navy pants you had - the ones you had for best? They fitted you beautifully, then one day you put them on and they were up around your ankles! You'd just sort of shot up without me even noticing! I almost had to buy you a complete new wardrobe." There was a pause as Teena and Mulder laughed at the memory from long ago. "Anyway, that's enough of that. When do you suggest we meet?" "Is Saturday evening convenient?" asked Mulder. "That'll be fine, dear." Mulder informed his mother as to where he and Sarah would be staying. He would also book a table at a suitable restaurant and let his mother know the time and place. After concluding the call to his mother, Mulder telephoned Sarah's Granny Page. They couldn't travel up to Boston and not call in on her. Mulder knew that Sarah's maternal grandmother missed her granddaughter - when Sarah lived with her mother, she had seen Granny Page almost every day, and the two shared a very close bond. Unfortunately, Granny Page wouldn't be in town that weekend - she herself would be visiting some other family members, and was very disappointed to learn that she would miss her granddaughter. However, Mulder promised her that he would send Sarah up to stay over the summer vacation. Thursday night, and Mulder held onto his daughter's arm as she clambered out of the tub. He didn't want her to slip and hurt herself. "I can dry myself, Daddy," Sarah informed her father in a grown up fashion, as he wrapped her in the huge bath sheet. "I'm a big girl now." "Whatever you say, Sarah," he replied, with a soft chuckle. "I'll let you get on with it then. Call me if you need me." With that, he left her to it and headed for her bedroom, still smiling. Sarah dried herself off and put on a pretty floral t-shirt and shorts pajama set, then emptied the tub. She hung the damp bath sheet over the towel rail as best she could, then went in search of her father. "Where are you, Daddy?" "In here, sweetheart." She found him taking clothes out of her dresser and putting them into the overnight bag. "Did you empty the tub, Sarah?" The little girl nodded. "But I didn't clean it, though." "That's okay. I'll clean it later after I've had my bath. Did you hang up the towel?" Sarah nodded again and watched her father reach into her tiny closet, remove a dress, fold it carefully and pack it into the bag. "Are you going away, Daddy?" She looked up at him with a long face. Sarah had grown accustomed to her father's absences, but if she had the choice she would rather have him there all the time. "Yes," he replied. "Am I going to stay with Aunty Margaret?" Mulder smiled down at his little girl, his fingertips brushing her soft cheek. "No. You're coming with me." Sarah's face lit up. "Where are we going, Daddy?" "We're going to Boston, just for the weekend. As it's Mothers Day on Sunday, I thought we'd take some flowers to Mommy's grave." "When are we going?" "Tomorrow afternoon. I'll pick you up from school and we'll drive straight to the airport." "Is Dana coming with us?" "No, sweetheart. She's visiting Aunty Margaret this weekend, but Granny Mulder will be in Boston and she's going to have dinner with us on Saturday night." "Can we visit Granny Page?" "I called Granny Page and told her we were coming but she won't be there, sweetheart. She's visiting some other relations." "I haven't seen Granny Page for ages," Sarah said sadly. "When can I see her again? I miss her." Mulder reached out and ran hand over her hair. "I know you do, Sarah. That's why we decided that you could go and stay with her during the summer vacation." Sarah's dark eyes regained their sparkle at that. "How long for, Daddy?" "I don't know, Sarah. I'll have talk to Granny nearer the time and see what she says." Sarah's maternal grandmother wasn't in the best of health, and Mulder was a little worried as to how she would cope with his boisterous and lively daughter. More than likely she'd enlist the help of Sarah's aunt and uncle and their children, Sarah's cousins. Mulder packed the last of Sarah's things into the bag and put it on the floor out of the way. "There we are - you're all ready to go!" he said with a smile. He pulled back the covers on Sarah's bed. "Into bed now, sweetheart." The little girl did as she was told, and Mulder smiled affectionately as he saw her pajama stop clinging to her back where she hadn't been able to reach round and dry it. She lay down and Mulder drew the covers over her asking, "What would you like me to read to you tonight?" "Tell me one of those Greek stories, Daddy," answered Sarah. Mulder had recently bought his daughter a book of Greek myths and legends and had started reading the stories to her. Sarah enjoyed both the stories and the illustrations that accompanied them. He reached out, took the book from the shelf and made himself comfortable by his daughter's bedside. "Now, which story would you like?" he asked, opening the book. "The one about the lady with the snakes for hair," replied Sarah, making herself comfortable. "And then can you tell me the story of Pegasus?" "We'll see, sweetheart." Mulder turned to the page with the story of Medusa and began to read. Mulder was ready and waiting when Sarah finished school the next day. She settled herself in the front passenger seat and belted herself in. "Look what I made, Daddy." Sarah flourished the Mother's Day card she'd made that morning in front of him. "Let me see, sweetheart." Mulder took the card from her. On the front Sarah had drawn a little girl holding a posy of flowers. Across the top of the card was written "Happy Mother's Day" in Sarah's own distinctive childish script. "It's beautiful, sweetheart. Are you going to leave it for Mommy?" "No, Daddy. This is for Dana," replied the child. "When can I give it to her?" "Well, we'll have to leave it until Sunday. Maybe we can stop by Dana's on our way back from the airport." "But you said that Dana will be at Aunty Margaret's," the little girl reminded him. "Yes, that's right, but Dana might have gone home by the time we get back." "But I have to give it to Dana," pouted Sarah. "I made it specially." "I know, sweetheart, and we'll do our very best to deliver it to her. Now, you'd better put it away because we have a plane to catch." Mulder unlocked the door to their hotel room, put his hand around and flipped on the light. Sarah ran in and threw herself onto one of the beds. "This is my bed, Daddy," she declared, patting the comforter. Mulder smiled - he knew very well that when he woke up the next morning, his daughter would be snuggled in beside him. The room was the same as a thousand other hotel rooms, although of a better standard than those that Mulder and Scully usually frequented when out in the field. Pastel prints adorned the walls, complementing the shades in the comforters that covered the beds. Mulder let Sarah bounce up and down on the bed for a few moments then said, "That's enough for now, sweetheart. Help me unpack and then we'll go out and get something to eat." He unzipped the overnight bag and removed his toiletry sac, handing it to his daughter. "Could you put this on the bathroom counter for me, please?" Sarah did as she was asked while Mulder found her dress and hung it up. When she came back he was just placing her pajamas on her pillow. "Can I buy Granny Mulder a present, Daddy?" "I think she'd like that, sweetheart. We can have a look for something tomorrow, and you can give it to her when we meet for dinner." "Does Granny like chocolates?" asked the little girl. "Yes, she does. Is that what you'd like to get her?" Sarah nodded. "Special chocolates, Daddy... like I gave Dana." "Okay. I'm sure we can find a special chocolate shop here somewhere. We'll check out the Yellow Pages later." Mulder glanced at his watch. "Right now, I think we'd better see about getting something to eat before it gets too late." Morning found Mulder sitting up in bed, his long legs stretched out in front of him under the covers. Sarah straddled them then placed her small hands on the sides of his face. She pushed, scrunching up Mulder's face and forcing out his lips. The little girl laughed aloud - she thought her father's squinched up expression was hilarious. "You think that's funny, do you? I'll show you what happens to little girls that squash their daddy's face and laugh at him." Mulder grinned and caught Sarah around her waist, drawing her to him. He held her comfortably against him, moved the hair away from her neck, then blew soggy raspberries against her skin, making her wriggle and squeal. "You made me all wet, Daddy!" Sarah wiped at her neck with her hand when she finally extricated herself from her father's grasp. "You'll be having a wash in a moment, anyway." "Can I have a cuddle first?" asked Sarah. "All right, but just a small one." She snuggled into his arms and he nuzzled her hair. "What are we going to do today, Daddy?" "Well, we have to get Granny's chocolates, and maybe we could go to Faneuil Hall Marketplace." Mulder gave Sarah a gentle squeeze. "Shall we talk about it over breakfast?" The little girl nodded and snuggled in even closer to her father. Mulder stroked her back gently and dropped a soft kiss on her brow, then after a few more minutes he patted her back and said, "Come on, young lady - it's time we were up." After a large and leisurely breakfast, Mulder and Sarah headed off in the direction of Faneuil Hall Marketplace. The area was already bustling - it was a popular destination for tourists from both home and abroad. Mulder knew Boston fairly well; with the Vineyard being close, they had visited the city often when he was a child. He remembered the hustle and bustle of the city being a world away from the quiet sedateness of Chilmark, where everyone knew everyone else, and their business. After Samantha's disappearance, many were the times the young Fox had thought about running away to the anonymity of the big city and escaping the pitying looks and whispers that followed him wherever he went at home. He didn't think that anyone would miss him - his father was never there, and his mother was wrapped up in her own world, grieving for the daughter she had lost. Mulder and Sarah spent some time wandering around the various stores and craft carts, then something caught the little girl's eye. "Daddy, can I buy one of these for Dana?" Sarah picked up a little plush teddy bear from the adjacent craft cart. In his arms he held a small fabric heart embroidered with the words 'I Love You', and filled with lavender. "I can give it to her on Sunday with her card." "That's a good idea, Sarah. I think Dana will like that." The little girl beamed. "Can I have my purse, please?" Mulder pulled out her little wallet, which she'd given him for safe keeping. He'd put a few extra dollars in it after she'd gone to bed the night before. "Would you like me to count out the money for you?" "I can do it, Daddy," answered Sarah assuredly, holding out her hand for the wallet. She looked again at the displayed price, then counted out the notes and handed them over with the teddy to the young woman in charge of the cart. "Is it a gift?" she asked. "Yes," replied Sarah, adding brightly, "It's for my new Mommy." The woman smiled. "Would you like me to put him in a little box for you?" "Yes please." Sarah waited patiently while her gift was boxed and wrapped. "There you are," said the woman, handing Sarah a small carrier bag and the change from her purchase, which the little girl quickly deposited back into her wallet before returning it to her father. "Thank you!" Sarah was one satisfied customer. Mulder gave the woman a smile of appreciation for her assistance. "Are we all done here, sweetheart?" Sarah nodded. "Okay. Let's find somewhere to have a drink and then we can look for the chocolate shop." The little girl was agreeable to that, so off they went. They found a cafe, with tables set up outside, with a view of the various street performers. Sarah was fascinated by the mime artist, and by the dexterity of the jugglers. "Can you do that, Daddy?" Mulder could do a lot of things, but juggling wasn't one of them. Being the accident prone person that he was, he knew he was more than likely to knock himself out with the clubs. He chuckled and said, "I don't think so, sweetheart." "What about a fire eater?" "Definitely not!" He laughed and smoothed a hand over her hair as she drained her milkshake. They sat for a little while longer, then it was off to find the chocolate shop. On entering the confiserie, Mulder and Sarah were dazzled by the array of chocolates on display. He knew it would be a difficult choice - they all looked so tempting. Sarah obviously thought so - she almost had her nose pressed against the glass fronted display, and Mulder could swear she was practically salivating. "Can I help you, sir?" Mulder looked up to see one of the store assistants facing him across the counter. "Yes, my daughter would like to buy some chocolates." His arm rested on Sarah's shoulders. The woman smiled down at Sarah. "Would that be a ready boxed selection or lose?" "I want some of these, please," answered Sarah, looking up at the woman and pointing to the chocolates in the display. "And what size box would you like?" The assistant showed Mulder and Sarah the three different sizes; small, medium and large. Sarah looked to her father for guidance. "Which one, Daddy?" "Medium, I think." "This box holds eighteen chocolates," said the woman, picking up a small pair of tongs with which to pick up Sarah's chosen confections. "Which ones would you like?" Mulder knew that this alone could take all day - there were so many to choose from. His daughter was a careful shopper - she'd examine everything in great detail before she parted with her money. He squeezed Sarah's shoulders. "If you point out the ones you like the look of, I'll tell you what they are." "Okay, Daddy. What's that one?" "Champagne truffle." Two duly went into the box. "And what's this one?" "Cherry in brandy." Another two spaces were filled. Viennese butter truffles, rum truffles, walnut pralines, fondants and creams; soon the double layered ballotin was full. "Is it a gift?" asked the store assistant. "Yes," replied Sarah. "It's for my Granny." The woman deftly and expertly wrapped the box with decorative ribbon and a large bow, then placed it carefully into a bag. She handed it over to Mulder while Sarah counted out the money from her wallet. "I don't have enough, Daddy!" Sarah looked up at her father, a stricken expression on her face. "Yes you do," answered Mulder calmly. "You should have another five dollar bill in there." Sarah looked again, and he saw the relief wash across her face as she pulled out the note. A few moments later, the transaction was completed, and they left the store. "Where are we going now, Daddy?" Sarah carried her purchases in one hand and held onto to her father with the other. "How about a stroll on the common?" he suggested. "Okay." They hadn't gone very far when Sarah's eye was caught by the sight of a young woman holding onto a huge cluster of helium balloons, of varying shapes and designs, that were for sale. "Can I have one, Daddy?" she asked, her lush eyes large and expectant. "Please?" "All right," answered Mulder, reaching for his wallet. "Which one would you like?" "That one." Sarah pointed to a star shaped balloon, which was blue on one side and silver on the other. Mulder handed over the cash, and the little girl was soon the proud owner of the balloon. "Make sure you hold onto it, sweetheart - you don't want to lose it." Sarah and her father strolled hand in hand on Boston Common, enjoying the Spring sunshine and the opportunity to spend time together. Although Sarah enjoyed the time she and her father spent with Scully, she also liked having her father to herself as much as she could. She looked up at him. "My legs ache, Daddy. Can I ride on your shoulders?" "Just for a little while, Sarah." They had accomplished a fair amount of walking since breakfast. Mulder found a convenient bench and perched on the edge so that Sarah could clamber up onto his shoulders. He first tied the balloon to her wrist so that it wouldn't float off, then the little girl slipped her legs either side of her father's neck, her small hands grasping his forehead. "Are you ready?" Sarah's answer was in the affirmative. "Hold on tight... up we go." Mulder held onto his daughter's legs as they walked along. It had been a while since he'd carried her on his shoulders and he was surprised at how much heavier she seemed. "Can we have a drink, Daddy? I'm thirsty." "That sounds like a good idea, sweetheart." They found a table outside a nearby Starbucks and Mulder tied Sarah's balloon to the back of her seat before they entered the store to purchase their refreshments. "What would you like, Sarah?" "A strawberry smoothie, please. Can I have a cookie too?" asked Sarah, keeping one eye on her balloon. "I don't think they have any cookies, sweetheart." Mulder peered into the display case. "They have some flapjacks... would you like one of those?" "Yes, please." "Okay. You'd better go back and sit at our table before someone else takes it. I'll be there as soon as I can." After their stop at Starbucks, they returned to the hotel for a rest. Sarah was bouncing up and down on the bed as if it were a trampoline. "Catch me, Daddy!" she cried, and then she leapt into his arms, her long legs snaking around his waist. Mulder held her tight, his face buried in her hair. He sat down on the bed with his daughter in his lap. "Can I have a trampoline, Daddy?" "And where do you think we'll put it, Sarah? Trampolines are big and we only have a small apartment." "Not a big one, Daddy. One of those little round ones." She used her hands to illustrate, making a small circle in the air. An aerobic rebounder. The neighbors below would just love that. They complained enough as it was about Mulder bouncing his basketball on the floor, although there hadn't been so much of that since Sarah's arrival. "We'll see, sweetheart. Let's see what Santa brings you this year." "But Christmas is a long time away, Daddy!" whined the little girl. "You can't have everything you want, Sarah," said Mulder gently, pushing her hair behind her ear. "You know that. I've told you before that money doesn't grow on trees." "But Daddy..." she wheedled, slipping her arms around his neck. Mulder tried hard not to smile at this exhibition of cupboard love. "No, Sarah - and that's my final word." He braced himself for the inevitable tantrum, but none was forthcoming. Sarah pouted, knowing that any further argument would be fruitless, then slipped off her father's lap and headed for the bathroom. Mulder kicked off his shoes and stretched out on the bed, then picked up the remote and channel surfed. When Sarah came back, she climbed up and lay down beside him. "Why don't you have a nap, sweetheart?" "Naps are for babies, Daddy," said Sarah scornfully. "I'm a big girl now." "Oh, that's right. I keep forgetting." Mulder smiled in amusement. Even so, Sarah was asleep within five minutes. They'd had a busy day so far, and it wasn't over yet. Mulder leaned down, gently brushed the hair away from her cheek and planted a kiss there, then lay back to watch the sports channel. He roused his daughter an hour later, hoping that the nap hadn't left her grumpy. Mulder needn't have worried - after ten minutes or so spent waking up in his arms, Sarah was as bubbly as ever. He glanced again at his watch. "I think I'll go shower and shave." He'd foregone shaving in the morning, knowing that they were going out in the evening. Sarah ran her fingers over his dark stubbly cheeks. "Your face is all rough, Daddy!" Mulder chuckled and touched his sandpapery cheek to the little girl's peachy skinned one. "It's all scratchy and sharp!" She giggled and pushed him away. "Maybe I should grow a beard," grinned Mulder, smoothing his fingers over his cheeks. "What do you think, sweetheart?" "No, Daddy!" Sarah gave him a horrified look. "You wouldn't look like Daddy anymore." Sarah liked her father just as he was. "Okay, I won't grow a beard. How about a moustache?" Mulder took a lock of his daughter's hair and held it against his top lip. Sarah giggled again and shook her head. "You don't think I'd look good with a moustache?" "No, Daddy." "All right." He gave her a kiss. "I'm going to have my shower." "Can I play with my Game Boy?" "If you like." Mulder left Sarah sitting Indian style in the middle of his bed, concentrating hard on the hand held game. When Mulder finished showering, he opened the bathroom door to allow the steam to dissipate. Sarah was still playing with the Game Boy and when the door opened, she turned the little machine off and tossed it aside, scooting to the end of the bed so that she could watch her father shave. The little girl lay on her stomach, her face propped up in her hands. Her long legs, bent upwards at the knee, waved in the air behind her. "What time are we meeting Granny?" she asked. "Seven o'clock," came the mumbled reply, as Mulder contorted his face in the mirror and drew the razor over his cheek. "At the restaurant." Mulder figured that was easiest as they were coming from opposite sides of town. "Is it a restaurant with tablecloths?" Mulder chuckled. His daughter had a thing about restaurants with tablecloths. "Yes, it is sweetheart." Sarah digested that, then rolled over onto her back, her head hanging over the edge of the bed and her long hair touching the floor. "You're upside down, Daddy." "Am I?" Mulder glanced through the door at his daughter. "Lie on the bed properly Sarah, you'll make yourself dizzy." The last thing he wanted was for her to slip off and land on her head and injure her neck. He watched her turn over again, then went back to his shaving. Mulder was almost done. He wiped away the remaining shaving foam then refilled the basin with clean water and splashed his face. Finally he patted it dry. "Can I do your cologne, Daddy?" "If you want to," smiled Mulder. "You'd better come here, then." "Daddy, you're bleeding." Sarah's brow wrinkled in concern when she saw the blood on her father's face. Mulder glanced in the mirror and saw the thin trickle of blood on his chin. He'd cut himself shaving. "It's all right, sweetheart - it's not serious. It's just a little nick." He smiled down at her. "You should be careful, Daddy." "I should, shouldn't I?" Mulder took a tissue from the supply on the bathroom counter and pressed it against the wound. After about five minutes, the bleeding stopped. "Can I put the cologne on now?" asked Sarah. "Hold out your hands, then." Mulder tipped a little of his cologne into Sarah's palm. She rubbed her hands together then patted them gently against her father's cheeks. "Is that all right, Daddy?" "Perfect. A first class job." Mulder gave his daughter a loving smile and a hug. "Time for your bath now, sweetheart." Mulder gathered her hair back into a ponytail and fastened it, then twisted it up on top of her head and pinned it to keep it from getting wet. "I think your hair needs trimming again, sweetheart." "I don't want it all cut off, Daddy!" wailed Sarah. "Nobody said anything about cutting it all off, Sarah. The ends need trimming, that's all." Two inches at most, he figured - he knew she hated having her hair cut. Sarah's hair was her pride and joy. "Into the bath now, sweetheart." He hovered while she maneuvered herself into the tub, just in case she slipped suddenly, then passed her a washcloth and left her to bathe in peace while he dressed. "Come and wash my back, Daddy!" called Sarah. She could manage everything else but couldn't reach her back. Mulder lathered up the washcloth and gently washed her back then rinsed it off. Sarah then felt him gently push the top edges of her ears forward. "What are you doing, Daddy?" "Looking for potatoes," he replied with a grin. "Daddy!" cried Sarah, looking up at him with an indignant expression. "I washed behind my ears!" "I know, sweetheart." Mulder knew that his daughter was fastidious when it came to her personal hygiene. He leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "I was just teasing. Are you done now?" "Yes," answered the little girl. She stood up and he wrapped her in a large towel then lifted her out. Some ten minutes later, Sarah had brushed her teeth and was sporting the dress she'd worn to her birthday party. Mulder had thought that his mother might like to see her granddaughter in her party dress. He removed the fastenings from Sarah's hair and brushed it, arranging it around her small shoulders. "I think we're almost ready, to go, sweetheart. Where did you put Granny's chocolates?" "They're here, Daddy." Sarah pointed to the bag on the table. "Okay." Mulder picked up his wallet and keys and took one last look around to make sure they hadn't forgotten anything. He smiled down at his daughter. "Shall we go?" The cab dropped them at the restaurant a few minutes early. Mulder and Sarah entered hand in hand and found that Teena had beaten them to it. She was seated in a small waiting area off to the right of the restaurant entrance. "Granny!" Sarah was immediately off at a trot at the sight of her grandmother. "Hello, sweetheart." Teena Mulder enveloped the child as best she could, savoring the feel of her in her arms. "You hurt your leg, Granny," observed Sarah as she pulled away. Mulder's eyes were immediately drawn to the heavy strapping around his mother's left ankle, just visible beneath the leg of her pants. A cane was leaning against the chair. "Mom, what happened to your ankle?" he asked, full of concern, before leaning over and kissing her cheek. "I had a fall, Fox..." "Did you black out, Mom?" Mulder's face was etched with worry. Ever since her stroke, he'd been worried about the possibility of her suffering blackouts and sustaining a serious injury. "No, dear. It was my own fault, I wasn't looking where I was going. I was browsing in a little antique store and there was a step down from one level to the other. It was rather dimly lit and I just didn't see it." "Why didn't you call me?" "There was no need, Fox. It's nothing serious. You're only here for the weekend and I didn't want you spending it waiting around a hospital because of me." "Are you sure it was just your ankle, Mom? You didn't hit your head or anything?" He squatted down in front of her, took her hands in his and looked up into her pale blue eyes. "The hospital checked me over thoroughly, Fox. I'm fine." Mulder nodded, and gave a wan smile of relief. "Are you sure you're up to this Mom? If you'd rather not ..." "And miss spending time with my granddaughter? I told you, Fox - I'm all right. Now stop fussing and let's get going. We have a table waiting." Teena stood slowly, with her son's assistance. "You can hold my hand, Granny," said Sarah, also wanting to help. "Thank you, dear," smiled Teena, patting the little girl's wrist. Mulder looped his mother's arm through his, and she leaned heavily on him while Sarah held onto her granny with one hand and carried her cane in the other. "I've been here before, Daddy," announced Sarah, once they were seated at the table. Teena's expression of surprise wasn't lost on Mulder. The restaurant was at the more expensive end of the dining spectrum. "When was that, sweetheart?" he asked. "I came with Mommy and Granny Page for Granny's birthday. I like the food here." The little girl licked her full, rosy lips and made her father and grandmother laugh. "I think Sarah took a bit of a step down when she came to live with me," Mulder said with quiet wryness to his mother. "She certainly seems to be at home with the high life." He turned back to his daughter, who was smoothing the edge of her dress as she sat at the table. In his hand, Mulder held the menu. "What would you like to eat, Sarah?" He slowly reeled off the dishes one by one, each successive dish sounding more appetizing than the one before it. Sarah was spoilt for choice. "I don't know what to have, Daddy." "What about the pasta? You like that. Why don't you think about it while Granny and I choose what we'd like to eat." Finally, after much deliberation, they were ready to order - salmon in asparagus sauce for Teena, chicken in parsley pesto sauce for Mulder. "And for the young lady?" asked the waiter, addressing Sarah and raising a slight blush to her cheeks. The little girl was thoughtful for a moment, one finger resting against her cheek, and then she said, "I'd like the linguine with prawns and asparagus, please." The words were spoken with all the confidence of one accustomed to dining out in fine surroundings on a regular basis. The little girl's order noted, the waiter collected the menus and departed. "We're both having asparagus, Granny!" smiled Sarah. "So we are!" Teena returned her granddaughter's smile. "You look very nice, Sarah. That's such a pretty dress." "Daddy gave me this dress for my birthday. I wore it to my party." While they waited for their drinks, Sarah presented her grandmother with the box of chocolates she had purchased earlier in the day. "I chose them all myself," she announced proudly, proceeding to list the contents of the box. "You've picked all my favorites," said Teena. She was delighted with the gift, and bestowed a warm kiss on her granddaughter's cheek. "Thank you, sweetheart. I shall enjoy these very much." The wine waiter arrived with the bottle of wine that Mulder had ordered for himself and his mother, and a mocktail for Sarah. "I thought Dana would have come with you," said Teena as she buttered a morsel of bread. "I did invite her," replied Mulder, offering the bread basket to his daughter, "but she has a family get together. I think it's a sort of Mother's Day tradition for the Scully family." A slightly pained look crossed Teena's face. "They must be very close." "Yeah, they are." "Dana must think I'm a terrible mother," said Teena quietly. "Mom, this isn't the time." Mulder's eyes slid towards Sarah, who was busy buttering her piece of bread. He didn't want to discuss such a painful subject in front of her. Teena nodded. "You're right, Fox. But I would like to talk to you..." "We'll talk soon, Mom." "Maybe next time you come up?" "I'd like that." "When do you think that will be, Fox?" "I don't know, Mom. Things change from day to day - I never know what's going to land on my desk when I get up in the morning." He reached out and took her hand. "I promise I won't leave it too long." "I'm going to stay with Granny Page in the summer holidays," Sarah announced to Teena when a convenient lull arose in the adult's conversation. "Are you, sweetheart? That'll be nice. Maybe you'd like to come and stay with me sometime, too." Teena looked up at her son. "If that's all right with you, Fox?" "Well, I..." Sarah looked eagerly across the table at her father. "Please can I go and stay with Granny, Daddy?" She gave him the big eyes. "Are you sure you'd be up to it, Mom? Sarah might be too much for you on your own." "I was hoping that you might like to come too, Fox." "Well..." Mulder hedged - he didn't want to have to give her a definite answer right away. "I'd certainly come for a couple of days..." "It's all right, Fox - you don't have to decide now. You can think about it and let me know." Teena smiled at him, then turned back to her granddaughter. "So what have you been up to lately, Sarah?" "We made Mother's Day cards at school and I made one for Dana," answered the child. "I'm sure she'll like that very much, sweetheart." "And I bought her a present and I'm going to give it to her when we get home on Sunday." Teena nodded. "And how are you getting on with your piano lessons?" "I like it, Granny. It's fun." "Sarah's doing really well, Mom," said Mulder with a proud smile. "She can already play a simple tune." "I'll play it for you when I come to stay," said Sarah enthusiastically. Teena chuckled, and touched the child's cheek affectionately. "I look forward to that, Sarah." Their meals arrived and conversation came to a virtual halt as they ate. "How's your pasta, sweetheart?" Mulder asked his daughter. "Delicious, Daddy," replied the little girl. "Can I taste your chicken?" "Sure." Mulder cut a small piece off his chicken and passed it to Sarah. He watched in amusement as she chewed on it thoughtfully, awaiting her verdict. "I like that, Daddy. I'm going to have that next time." "That's if we come here again. It might be nice to try another restaurant next time." Mulder turned to his mother. "How's your salmon, Mom?" "Excellent, Fox. Beautifully moist, and the sauce is perfect." Mulder nodded - his mother was very fond of salmon. He could remember the dinner parties that had taken place now and again when he was young, and in happier times - his mother's cold whole poached salmon had always been a success. Along with everything else, after Samantha's disappearance, his mother had lost her interest in cooking. Mulder dismissed those thoughts from his mind - this was supposed to be a happy occasion. He couldn't go back and fix the past, however much he wanted to - what was done was done. One last thought crept into his head - that it would have been nice if Samantha could have been sharing the meal with them. "Would you like to see the dessert menu?" asked the waiter as he cleared away their plates. "I would!" piped up Sarah, making her father and grandmother laugh. "I think that's a yes," replied Mulder. A few moments later they were studying the dessert menu, and once again, Mulder reeled off the choices open to his daughter, having already made his own selection. "I don't know about anyone else, but I'm going to have the cassata." "What's that, Daddy?" asked the little girl. "It's a kind of ice cream, sweetheart. Usually three different flavors in layers, one on top of another." "What are the flavors, Daddy? Do they have chocolate?" "Not in this one, Sarah. This one has raspberry water ice on the outside, then a layer of pistachio and vanilla in the middle." The little girl thought about it for a moment, then, "I want cassata too, Daddy." "Make that three," smiled Teena. Although their main courses hadn't been heavy, the portions had been generous and something light was the perfect end to the meal. Sarah thoroughly enjoyed her dessert, making short work of it. "Can we buy one of these next time we go to the supermarket?" she asked. "We can certainly look, but I don't think it will be as nice as this one," answered Mulder. "But we can still look, though." Sarah looked up at her father for confirmation. "We can still look," he smiled. When the waiter came to clear away the dessert plates, Mulder ordered coffee for himself and his mother. While they waited, mother and son talked a little about Teena's stay in Boston, and what she'd been doing. Sarah soon became bored with that and tapped her father's wrist, trying to attract his attention. "Just a moment, sweetheart; I'm talking to Granny." The little girl sat back in her chair and fiddled with the edge of the tablecloth, rolling it up then letting it unravel, while the adults continued their conversation. When that ceased to amuse her, Sarah took to looking around at the diners sitting at the adjacent tables. The man at the table to Sarah's right gave her a cheerful smile and a wink when he saw her looking at him, and the little girl blushed and glanced away quickly. "Sarah? What was it you wanted to say, sweetheart?" asked Mulder. "When are you going to show Granny the photos?" "What photos are these, Sarah?" queried Teena. "The photos from my party," answered the child. Mulder reached into his jacket. "I thought you might like to see them, Mom." "I'd love to, Fox." He handed her the wallet and she took the bundle of prints out, then started to look through them one by one. "Is this your cake, Sarah?" asked Teena, and her granddaughter nodded. "It looks wonderful. Did it taste good?" "It was delicious and all my friends liked it too," replied the little girl with enthusiasm. Teena moved on, coming to the shot that Scully had taken of father and daughter on the stairs. "This is a wonderful photo of you both." "Which one is that, Mom?" asked Mulder, and she showed it to him. Teena couldn't get over just how much Sarah looked like her father and she studied the image for a long time. "Would you like a copy of that one?" "I'd love one, Fox... if it's not too much trouble." "It's no trouble at all, Mom. I'll see to it when we get home." Teena moved on further. "Now what's happening here?" she asked, seeing Mulder wearing a blindfold and standing very close to Scully. "Let me see, Granny!" cried Sarah. Teena showed the picture to Sarah and she giggled. "We were playing "Pin The Tail On The Donkey" and Daddy tried to pin it on Dana." Teena raised her eyebrows at her son. "Scully wasn't amused either," he grinned. The coffee was delivered to the table, with a chocolate mint on each saucer. "And this is for the young lady." The waiter had brought along an extra one just for Sarah, handing it to her on a small plate. The little girl was thrilled, and between her blushing and embarrassed giggles, she managed a 'thank you.' "That was very kind of the waiter to do that, wasn't it, Sarah?" said Teena, and the little girl nodded around her piece of chocolate. "Can you pour me some water, please, Daddy?" asked Sarah when she'd swallowed the mint. Mulder reached for the water jug and poured his daughter half a glass full. Sarah promptly took a long draught and said, "Did you see my new fangs, Granny?" Teena gave her granddaughter a puzzled look. "Fangs, Sarah?" "Daddy calls my teeth my fangs," explained the child, then she drew back her lips and revealed a mouth full of pearly white teeth, some bigger than others where her milk teeth had fallen out to be replaced by her adult teeth. "Sarah, not at the dinner table, please," said Mulder. He heard a muffled snort of laughter come from the next table, and he turned to see the man that had smiled at Sarah earlier trying not to laugh at her antics. Mulder smiled and shrugged his eyebrows as if to say, 'Can't take her anywhere.' Teena was tickled by her granddaughter. "How many new ones do you have now?" she asked. "Four. Daddy gives me three dollars every time another one falls out." "Goodness! Three dollars, Fox?" "Yeah - the Tooth Fairy doesn't come cheap," grinned Mulder. "Sarah will be a millionaire by the time she has all her big teeth, and I'll be bankrupt." "What does that mean, Daddy?" "It means that I won't have any money left," he replied, smoothing a hand over her hair. "It means I might have to send you out to work." "That's all right, Daddy - I can come and work with you," smiled Sarah. "I don't know about that, sweetheart," laughed her father. "I think one Mulder is more than the Bureau can cope with as it is!" "We're going to see Mommy tomorrow," said Sarah to her grandmother. "Yes, I know - your daddy told me." "We're going to take some flowers to her grave." "I'm sure your Mommy will like that very much, Sarah." Teena caressed her granddaughter's soft cheek and wondered whether she would ever have known of Sarah's existence if the child's mother had not died. Although it had been a terrible thing for Sarah to lose her mother so early, Annie's passing had opened up a new chapter in Teena's otherwise lonely life. It had brought Fox back to her, and Sarah had been like a ray of sunshine brightening her dreary existence. The little girl had brought light where there was darkness. "We don't have to get up early tomorrow, do we, Daddy?" asked Sarah. She had sneaked her chair closer to her father and was leaning on him. "No, we can sleep in a little longer. Are you tired, sweetheart?" The child nodded. "Okay. I'll get the check in a minute and then we can be on our way." Mulder signaled to the waiter for the check, and it was brought to the table soon after. "Let me get this, Fox." Teena reached for her purse. "Put that away, Mom. This is my treat." "Fox..." "Mom, please. It's my treat, for Mother's Day." "Fox, I can't..." "Yes you can." His hand covered hers. "Now put that away." Teena gave in gracefully. Her son could be very persuasive, and stubborn, when he wanted to. She smiled. "All right, Fox. Thank you - the meal was delicious." Sarah fell asleep in the cab on the way back to where her grandmother was staying and with that, Teena saw the opportunity to talk to her son about certain matters that had been worrying her. "Sarah's a real credit to you, Fox." Teena wore a fond expression as she pushed away an unruly strand of hair from the little girl's face. "Thanks Mom." It wasn't the first time she'd told him, but he still liked to hear it. A part of him saw it as confirmation that he was at last doing something right in his life. Teena glanced briefly out of the cab window, then back at her son. "I know the work you do is fraught with danger, Fox. Have you given any thought..." She paused, then took a breath. "Have you made any provisions for Sarah in the event that anything happens to you?" Mulder nodded, glancing down at his daughter as she shifted in his arms. "It's taken care of, Mom. I've made a new will, and Scully is Sarah's legal guardian should anything happen to me." Teena digested that. She hated having to discuss this, but she knew it was necessary. She'd had enough losses in her life - if she lost Fox, Sarah would be the only family she had left. "Would I still be able to see her, Fox? If Dana had custody?" "Of course, Mom!" He took her hand. "I'd want contact maintained between you - you are Sarah's grandmother after all. I told you before - you have an important role to play in her life. That would be even more so if I wasn't around." Teena clasped both her hands over her son's. "Fox, what... what if, God forbid, something happened to you and Dana at the same time? Have you given any thought to arrangements for Sarah in that instance?" Teena's enquiry brought Mulder up short. It wasn't a question he had addressed. "No, I haven't," he admitted. It was a bad oversight on his part. "I'll deal with it when we get back to Washington." Deciding who should have custody of Sarah in the event of his and Scully's simultaneous demise would be a difficult task, and not one he was looking forward to. "I'm sorry, Fox - I know this probably isn't what you want to talk about right now, but I had to know. I couldn't bear to lose Sarah as well as you." "You're not going to lose either of us, Mom - you're stuck with us, whether you like it or not!" Mulder gave his mother a warm smile and squeezed her hand. The rest of the journey was completed in silence, both adults alone with their own thoughts. Eventually the cab pulled up outside a well-kept, sprawling single story house. "Looks like we're here," said Mulder. He started maneuvering Sarah out of his arms, to lay her on the seat. "Don't disturb her, Fox. I can make my own way to the door." "No, Mom - I'll come with you, especially with your ankle." "All right - I know better than to argue with you." Teena gave her son an affectionate smile, and he got out of the car, coming around to the other side and opening her door. He instructed the driver to wait, then helped his mother out of the car. She leaned on him and they walked slowly to the front door of the house. "Do you have a key, Mom?" Mulder noticed that the porch light had been left on for her convenience. "Yes - it's in my purse. Could you get it for me, Fox? It's the one with the red tab." Mulder opened his mother's purse and found the key right away. He also noticed a small photo of himself and Sarah in a little leather credit card wallet. "Here you are, Mom." He handed her the key. "Thank you, dear. I won't keep you, Fox - you should get Sarah back to the hotel. And the cab fare will be mounting up while you're standing here." "Well, that's for me to worry about," he replied. "Will you be all right, Mom? I can call the office and arrange to stay here another day to take you home." "I'll be fine, Fox." "Well, I'll call you in a few days, okay?" "All right, dear. Now you really should be going." Teena touched his face. "I had a wonderful evening, Fox. The food and company were outstanding." "Good - I'm glad you enjoyed it." "Thank Sarah again for the chocolates, will you?" "Sure. You should go in, Mom - rest that ankle." Mulder embraced his mother and kissed her cheek. "Go on - go," he said softly. He waited until she was inside and the door closed before he made his way back to the cab and directed the driver to take them to their hotel. Mother's Day dawned damp and drizzly. Mulder slipped out of bed quietly, leaving his daughter snoozing, to look out of the window. Not a very nice day to be visiting Annie's grave, he decided. Mulder turned as Sarah stirred, but she didn't wake up. She had been exhausted after the full day before, not even rousing when they got back to the hotel. Mulder's attention went back to the view out of the window. The rain continued to fall steadily as he maintained his thoughtful gaze out of the window, until the pressure on his bladder became too much and he had to go to the bathroom. Sarah surfaced into consciousness, yawned and rubbed her eyes, then looked around for her father. "Daddy?" "In here, sweetheart." Mulder's voice came from the bathroom. "I'll be right back." Sarah heard the toilet flush and the sound of her father washing his hands, then the door opened and he slipped back under the sheets. Sarah snuggled up to him and his arms went around her. He dropped a kiss on her hair. "How's my girl this morning?" "I'm tired, Daddy," answered Sarah, and to underline the point, she yawned again. "I'm not surprised," chuckled Mulder. "You had a late night last night." His fingertips combed gently through her tangled curls. "How about we have a special treat and order breakfast from room service?" Sarah nodded enthusiastically. She liked the sound of that. "Let's see what we can have." Mulder reached out for the menu. "They have muffins, toast, bagels, cereal, fresh fruit... what do you think you'd like?" "A bagel, please," replied Sarah. "I'd like it toasted, with strawberry jam and orange juice." "Certainly, madam," grinned her father, making the little girl giggle. "What are you having, Daddy?" "I think I'll have the same." Mulder was still full from the night before. "And I'll have some coffee with mine, too." He telephoned their order through, then father and daughter enjoyed their usual quiet morning cuddle. Mulder and Sarah sat side by side in Mulder's bed and ate their breakfast. The little girl looked up at her father with a brilliant smile. "This is fun, Daddy!" "Isn't it?" grinned Mulder. It was something they wouldn't do at home, and he was happy to indulge her. There was silence as they munched away on their bagels, then Sarah suddenly looked up again at her father. "Daddy?" "Yes?" Mulder noted her intense expression. "Is it true that cannonballs eat people?" Mulder frowned. "I don't know what you mean, Sarah." "You know, Daddy. Cannonballs are people that eat other people." Mulder resisted the temptation to hoot with laughter. "I think you mean cannibals, sweetheart." He couldn't wait to tell that to Scully. Sarah shrugged, nonplussed at her faux pas. "Is it true, Daddy? Danny Shapiro says that they eat other people." What to say? Mulder was stumped. "Well, there have been occasions when some humans have eaten other humans." Sarah's face wrinkled in distaste. "Why?" she asked, picking a small lump of dough out of her bagel and putting it into her mouth. "Because it was part of their culture, or they had to do it to survive. Sweetheart, who's Danny Shapiro?" "He's the new boy in my class." "Oh." And a bloodthirsty one, too, thought Mulder with a wry smile. He squeezed his daughter's shoulders. "Well, you don't have to worry, Sarah - there are no cannibals in Boston, or at home." That he knew of, that was. "What about vampires, Daddy? Danny says that they have big pointed fangs and they bite you on the neck and drink your blood. Is that true?" "No, sweetheart. Vampires exist only in legend, Sarah. Now hurry up and finish your breakfast. I'll go shower while you do that." "Can I watch cartoons, Daddy?" "Okay, but keep it low - the people in the next room might still be asleep." The cab dropped them at the cemetery. Mulder raised the umbrella that he'd borrowed from the hotel and escorted his daughter to her mother's grave. Less than a year had passed since they'd stood in the very same spot to say goodbye to Annie. Several members of Sarah's family had made it known at the time that a funeral was not the place for a young child, but Mulder's wishes had prevailed. He'd been so proud of his daughter that day - Sarah had conducted herself with a composure and dignity far beyond her tender years. The fine drizzle continued to fall steadily as they stood by Annie's grave side. Mulder covered Sarah with the umbrella as she crouched down and laid the small posy of sweet smelling violets. Then it was her father's turn to lay a sheath of long stemmed, deep pink roses, before standing quietly with his arm around his daughter. As always, his thoughts were mixed. He felt a deep sadness at what Annie had had to endure before she died, but that sadness was tinged with the recognition that had she not died, he might not have known Sarah in the way that he knew her now. Despite himself, and despite the fact that Annie had wanted him to have custody of their little girl, he still felt incredibly selfish whenever he had that thought. It didn't seem fair that Annie should have to die for him to have the relationship with Sarah that, deep down, he'd always craved. A deep sigh from Sarah brought him back to the present. "I miss you, Mommy," said the little girl quietly. "But Daddy and Dana take good care of me. And Aunty Margaret sometimes." Mulder wiped away the tear at the corner of his eye. He felt Sarah's small hand searching for his and he gave it to her. She looked up at him. "Does Mommy know about Dana being my new mommy one day?" she asked. "I expect so, Sarah." "Will she mind?" Mulder swallowed, and rested a hand on his daughter's hair. "No, sweetheart. I think Mommy will be very happy that you're going to have a new mommy to love you and look after you." "We can still come and see Mommy when you marry Dana, can't we?" "Of course we can, Sarah." The little girl nodded. "I don't want Mommy to be lonely." She looked up at him again. "Do you think she's lonely, Daddy?" Mulder smiled down at his daughter with tears in his eyes. He had to swallow again before speaking. "No, sweetheart. Mommy will never be lonely all the time she's in our thoughts." "I think about Mommy lots." "I know you do, sweetheart. I think about her a lot, too." Although Sarah resembled her father facially, there were times when her mannerisms were just like her mother's. The way she'd use her hands or flip her hair; the punctilious manner in which she went about certain tasks and the scathingly dismissive tone she sometimes used all brought Annie to mind at one time or another. Mulder smiled, thinking of the times Sarah had done something to upset or annoy her mother and Annie had told him, in exasperation, that their daughter was just like her father. They stood for a little while longer, then took their leave, riding back to the hotel to collect their bags and then heading for the airport and home. As they neared Scully's apartment, Mulder cut the engine and they coasted to a stop. He pulled out his cellphone and dialed her number. "Hey Scully, it's me." "Hello... this is a pleasant surprise. Where are you?" "Take a look out of your window." Mulder saw the curtains in Scully's apartment move and her face peer out. Her chuckle sounded in his ear. "What are you doing out there?" she asked. "Well, Sarah wanted to come by. She has something for you." "In that case, you'd better both come in." By the time Mulder and Sarah reached Scully's door it was open. They trooped right on in and made themselves at home. "Why don't I put the kettle on and make us all some tea?" "Good idea, Scully." He went to follow her into the kitchen but Sarah tugged on his sleeve. "Can I give it to Dana now, Daddy?" she whispered. "Let's have a cup of tea first, sweetheart, then you can give it to her when we're all sitting down." "So how was your weekend?" called Scully from the kitchen. Mulder and Sarah went through to find her getting the mugs down from the cupboard. "It was fine. We had a good time, didn't we sweetheart?" His hand ran over his daughter's hair and the little girl nodded. "You'll have to tell me all about it later," smiled Scully. "How about you, Scully? How did your lunch go?" "Good. Mom enjoyed herself - she gets treated like a queen for the day." "Daddy, I'm going to the bathroom," announced Sarah. "All right," answered her father. He watched her go, then moved across the kitchen to the counter, wrapping his arms around Scully. She had her back to him, but she turned her head to receive his kiss. "I missed you, Scully." Mulder nuzzled her neck, then whispered, "You know what I'd like to do right now?" He felt Scully shiver in his arms, and she turned to face him, running her fingertip over his lips. "Calm yourself, Mulder. We have a whole lifetime in front of us - there'll be plenty of time for that." So she hadn't gone off the idea of spending the rest of her life with him - Mulder was gratified to hear that. "Anyway, this floor is extremely hard, not to mention cold." The corner of her mouth quirked upwards. Mulder raised an eyebrow. "I'm not even going to venture a guess as to how you would know." "A wise decision, Mulder," replied Scully, lightly patting his chest. "Ah, there's the kettle!" She waltzed away, leaving him grinning after her. Mulder and Scully were comfortably ensconced on her sofa, with Sarah at their feet. She looked up at her father. "Daddy, can I give Dana those things now?" "Okay." He knew his daughter wouldn't rest until she'd handed over the card and gift. With a big smile, Sarah picked the little carrier bag off the coffee table. She reached into it and handed Scully the card. "Dana, I made this for you at school." Scully took the card and examined it carefully, seeing the little girl on the front with her posy of flowers, and the 'Happy Mother's Day' legend. "Sarah, it's lovely..." Scully was touched, and lost for words. She had not expected to receive anything from Sarah. "I wrote something inside, too," said the little girl eagerly, and Scully was prompted to open the card. Inside, Sarah had written 'To Dana, Happy Mother's Day, Love from Sarah.' The message was underscored with half a dozen kisses. "Thank you, sweetheart, it's wonderful." "I bought you a present, too." Sarah handed Scully the paper carrier bag. She reached in and took out the boxed and wrapped gift, opening it carefully. Finally she uncovered the little teddy bear with his lavender filled heart. "Oh, Sarah... he's lovely!" Scully inhaled the scent of the lavender. "Mmm... It smells gorgeous." She reached out to the little girl. "Come here, sweetie..." Scully enveloped the child in her arms, hugging and kissing her. "Thank you, Sarah." She didn't know what else to say - Sarah's card and gift had made her feel very special and honored. "So, are you going to tell me about your weekend? How was the dinner with your mom, Mulder? Is she okay?" "It was fine, Scully." He went on to tell her about his mother's fall and the invitation to come up and stay. "And what did you say?" "That I'd think about it." He drained the last of his now almost cold tea. "It threw me... put me on the spot a bit." "I want to go and stay with Granny Mulder, Daddy," piped up Sarah. He laid a hand on her head. "We'll see, sweetheart." "What else did you do, Sarah?" asked Scully. "We went shopping and Daddy bought me a balloon. And I bought Granny some chocolates... And guess what, Dana! We had breakfast in bed!" "Did you?" smiled Scully, cupping Sarah's cheek. She looked up at her partner. "You certainly know how to live, Mulder." "Well, just as long as Sarah doesn't get used to it," he grinned. "Why don't you tell Dana what the waiter in the restaurant called you?" "He called me young lady and gave me a chocolate mint even though I didn't have coffee!" Sarah was obviously thrilled by that - her face was a picture. Time was moving on. Sarah had wormed her way into her father's lap. "I'm tired, Daddy," she whined, rubbing her eyes and snuggling even closer to him. Mulder brushed his lips across her brow. "I guess I should get you home, huh? We've had a busy weekend." "Sing to me, Daddy. Sing 'All My Loving'." Scully gave him a puzzled look. This wasn't one of the songs she remembered from her partner's established repertoire. "I'll explain later, Scully." "I can't wait, Mulder," she replied. "Okay, sweetheart - snuggle up," he said to his daughter, and then he started to sing softly. Close your eyes and I'll kiss you I'll pretend that I'm kissing Mulder glanced down at his daughter. Sarah was out like a light, long and limp in his arms, warm and soft and fragrant. Mulder closed his eyes and lightly brushed his cheek against her silky hair. This tender, loving side of her partner never failed to move Scully, and she had to clear her throat and swallow before saying softly, "So, Mulder - what's the story behind this song?" "I don't think I need to tell you, Scully, that I wasn't very well versed in nursery rhymes and lullabies when Sarah was born," he answered with a sheepish grin. "My knowledge of such things was non existent. I had to get by on old Beatles songs. "All My Loving" is a special favorite of Sarah's." A brief expression of sadness crossed his face. "Do I detect a subtext in your choice of that particular song?" asked Scully. Mulder nodded. "I started singing it to her when she was a tiny baby. I always hated to leave her, Scully - it was so hard. I would hold her and sing to her in the hope that she'd go to sleep and I could slip away unseen. The words were so apposite - if she closed her eyes, I'd kiss her and I'd always miss her the next day. Truth was, I missed her the minute I was out of the door. I'd keep in touch regularly, as I've told you before, but it wasn't the same, Scully. It wasn't the same as being with her; holding her and playing with her and doing all the other things a parent does with a child." Mulder paused. "When you're apart from your child, the pull on your heart is immense." Scully took his free hand and squeezed it. She just didn't know what to say. Mulder's pain at being separated from his daughter went a lot deeper than he'd ever admit. "I know I won't have Sarah forever, but I'm going to make damn sure that we enjoy the time we do have together." "I know, Mulder," said Scully softly. She smiled up at him. "So what else is in this alternative repertoire of yours?" "Let me think - "And I Love Her," "Things We Said Today" and "Love Me Tender" and "Teddy Bear" by Elvis." "Elvis?" queried Scully. "Yeah," answered Mulder, curling his lip and saying in an Elvis type drawl, "You wanna make something of it?" Scully laughed softly. "Mulder, you idiot. That must be the worst impression of Elvis I've ever seen!" "Made you laugh, though," he grinned. He was glad to lighten the mood - things had been getting a little serious. "You want some more tea, Mulder?" asked Scully. He glanced at the clock display on Scully's VCR. He could afford to stay a bit longer now that Sarah was asleep. "Yeah, I'd like that, Scully." "Why don't you put Sarah on the bed while I'm doing that? I know how heavy she is - your arm will go numb if she stays on your lap." "Okay." By the time he came back from settling his daughter, Scully had the fresh tea waiting on the coffee table. Mulder sat down, picked up his tea and started laughing. "Would you care to share the joke, Mulder?" "I was just thinking about the little talk Sarah and I had over breakfast this morning," he replied. "Well, don't keep me in suspense, Mulder." "We had an interesting conversation about cannibals, or as Sarah called them, 'cannonballs.'" At that, Scully spluttered into her tea, then hastily drew the back of her hand across her mouth to wipe away the splashes of liquid around it. "Cannonballs?" she chuckled. "Yeah," he grinned. "I don't know how I kept a straight face." "What did she want to know?" "She wanted to know if it was true that they ate other humans. But that wasn't all, Scully. After we'd cleared up the cannibal question, she wanted to know about vampires." "Mulder, I think this confirms without a doubt that Sarah is your daughter!" He laughed. "It must be in her genes, like sleeping on the couch." "So why has she developed this sudden interest in such matters?" asked Scully. "Apparently there's a new boy - Danny - in her class, and he's been coming out with all this stuff." "He's a bit young for all that, isn't he, Mulder?" "Boys will be boys, Scully." He grinned at her. "They'll do whatever they can to scare the girls." "Yes... and I don't imagine you were very different. I bet you used to go around terrorizing all the little girls. Just exactly how old were you when this macabre interest manifested itself?" asked Scully, giving her partner a knowing look. "Do you mean scaring the girls or my interest in the darker things in life?" There was that grin again. "You know very well what I mean, Mulder," answered Scully. He gave her a shamefaced smile. "I was about Sarah's age," he replied. He laughed suddenly as a long forgotten memory came to the fore. "I had a pair of plastic vampire teeth, you know, with the long fangs." Scully nodded, and Mulder went on to say, "My mom had this black woolen shawl, and I remember commandeering it to use as a cape, like Dracula, you know? I used to hide in dark corners and jump out on Sam... The first time I did it, I covered my face with some luminous theatrical make up, and circled my eyes in red stuff. She screamed the place down. Dad was away, thank God, and Mom wondered what on earth was happening. I was grounded for a week for that. The outfit came in useful at Halloween, though - I'd go out in my Dracula get up and Sam would have her witch's costume and off we'd go, trick or treating." He laid his head against the back of the sofa and sighed. "Those were the days, Scully." He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and drew her to him. "The memories are not all bad, you know." "I'm glad, Mulder," answered Scully softly. Scully reached forward and picked up Sarah's card. She took in the colorful picture again, and the message inside. "Did you know about this, Mulder?" "I knew her class were going to be making cards," he replied. "Sarah showed it to me when I collected her on Friday afternoon and I assumed she was going to leave it for Annie. That's when she told me it was for you." "And what about the teddy bear?" "It was all Sarah's idea, Scully. She chose him and paid for him out of her own money. Said he was for her new mommy." He smiled and stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. Tears glistened in Scully's eyes. "I don't know what to say, Mulder. I never thought that Sarah would accept me the way she has. It's humbling in a way... that she would put her faith and trust in me..." Scully trailed off, lost for something to say. "Sarah loves you, Scully. Just like I do." Mulder's lips brushed against hers, gentle at first, then with more pressure. Their arms wrapped around one another, and Mulder slowly leaned back, taking Scully with him, until they were horizontal on the sofa. He kept one foot firmly planted on the floor for balance while he ravaged Scully's mouth and neck. Eventually they had to come up for air and Scully heard, "Where are the vampire teeth when you need them?" "I think you did pretty well without the fangs, Mulder," chuckled Scully softly. He moved her hair away from her neck. "Well, don't shoot me, Scully, but there is a bit of a mark there where I got just a little carried away. I think you might have to wear something with a high neck tomorrow." Scully sighed. This was nice. She'd missed Mulder over the weekend. If only they could spend a whole weekend together, as a couple... but then she suddenly felt selfish and guilty, for wanting to deprive Sarah of her father when he was away a lot of the time anyway. At least she saw Mulder every day at work, whether they were in the office or out in the field, which was more than Sarah did. Scully sighed again. "Big sigh, Scully," said Mulder, his fingertips stroking up and down her arm in a pleasingly rhythmic motion. "What was it for?" "I was just thinking, Mulder," she replied. "What about?" "How nice this is, just being here together." "Yeah, I was thinking that, too. I really missed you over the weekend." His fingers continued their stroking, and he said thoughtfully, "How would you feel about going away for a weekend? Just the two of us?" Scully almost fell off the sofa. Had he been reading her mind? "Scully? What do you think?" He took her silence as a non acceptance. "Don't you like the idea?" "No, no, Mulder... I think it's a wonderful idea, but what about Sarah?" "She won't miss out, Scully - we can do something with her on another weekend." The fingers were still stroking up and down her arm. "So what do you think?" Scully nodded. "I'd love to, Mulder." "Thought so. I know you've been dying to get me all to yourself!" His grin covered his whole face. "Don't flatter yourself, Mulder," chuckled Scully, swatting him playfully. "We should be going, Scully," said Mulder eventually. He went through to the bedroom and carefully lifted his daughter. She didn't even stir. "I guess I'll see you in the morning," said Scully. "Guess so." Mulder stood at Scully's door with his precious bundle. "I don't want to go, Scully," he said softly. "I know, Mulder, and I don't want you to go, but you have to get this little one home." Scully lightly touched Sarah's cheek, then brushed it with her lips. "Goodnight, sweetheart." Mulder leaned over as best he could and kissed Scully. "Night, Scully." "Night, Mulder. Drive carefully." She watched him as he walked down the passage, carrying the other love in his life. When he was gone, Scully went back into her apartment and closed the door. Their time would come soon. The End
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