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Title: Things Remember Summary: A few months after "Existence", Scully discovers a small antique shop in her neighborhood...a shop with unique items, and a very unique owner Notes: This story takes place some time after "Existence", which is assumed to take place in late December 2000. There are some minor references to my previous fic, "From That Eternal Silence', but you really don't need to read that to understand what happens here. Also, this is the first story in a series called "A Bringer of New Things", which involves all of the major characters at one point or another. Scully looked up at the swiftly darkening sky, and let out another heavy sigh. This was the kind of luck that she was having lately. No sooner did she get the chance to finally take a nice, long walk outside, with the weather finally warm enough to justify taking William out without an hour's worth of preparation, than the storm clouds start moving in. A quick look over her shoulder confirmed that it was too far to get back to the apartment in time, and besides, the last thing she wanted to hear right now was a lecture from Mulder. Better to wait it out on her own, in one of the nearby stores. At least then she could claim that she had figured out a way to deal with it on her own, when he argued that she shouldn't take him out alone again. It was a familiar argument, far too familiar for her liking. Things had gone well at first, with Mulder doting over William like the proud father, spending every possible moment seeing to their every need. But as the days lingered on and winter passed, Mulder had begun spending more and more time on his own. Not that it was unexpected, after those seemingly endless weeks of little sleep and even less peace of mind. But there were only so many days that she could watch him come and go as he pleased, leaving her to tend after their newborn, before she began to take solace in the fantasy of wringing his neck. Oh, he had noticed her rising resentment, and once the first signs of spring had come, he had started suggesting that they take walks together, as a family. It was the typical Mulder gesture. It had never occurred to him that she wanted to get out of the damn apartment on her own. Preferably with Mulder stuck at home with William during a particularly bad bout of colic. But as the days passed, and it became more and more obvious that Mulder was never going to volunteer to stay home with a newborn, Scully had resigned herself to taking her fate into her own hands. Of course, then the weather had taken a turn for the worse, and there was the late snow right after that, and then the arguments about taking William out before it was nice and warm... The first drop of drizzle snapped Scully from her reverie, and she quickly scanned the nearest stores and signs for a suitable safe haven. Needless to say, the toy store was out of the question. Same with the sporting goods store and the Subway. Running out of options, her eyes fell on a weathered and unassuming sign: "Things Remember". From the looks of the place, it was a small and eclectic antique store, and not a very busy one at that. Not the best option, maybe, but better than anything else on the block. The door opened with the requisite jangling of bells, and Scully looked up at the weathered strap of Christmas rattles hanging on the back of the door. It might have been a common thing, even predictable, but something about it gave her an immediate sense of intimacy. More than just a shop, this place was like a home. It was both comforting and somehow unsettling in the same thought. Carefully shifting the stroller away from one of the odd objects sitting just inside the door, she looked around for someone to talk to. She doubted that she had to explain herself, with the patter of raindrops falling more frequently on the front window with each passing second, but she didn't want to be dishonest about her intentions, either. A quick look over one of the displays revealed a small nook with an old cash register. Unfortunately, there was no one to be seen. Letting out another heavy sigh, she glanced down to make sure William was still sleeping, and then began absently scanning the shelves. There were the usual items that one would expect. Old books with worn bindings, dusty picture frames, the occasional silverware or wooden toy. Interspersed with the expected items were strange items that looked like something out of a museum or someone's private collection. Jewelry and coins that were obviously rare and unusual, displayed on a shelf for anyone to touch and examine. It struck Scully as an enormous and possibly nave extension of trust, and not for the first time, she wondered what kind of person ran this place. She was looking at a brooch with intricate Celtic etchings in the metal, which looked as though it was at least several hundred years old, when she heard a shuffle near the back of the store. She turned towards the noise just as the first clack of a heel echoed from the wooden floor. "Can I help you?" From behind a display, a young woman stepped out and regarded Scully with a bemused expression. At once, Scully was struck by the how out of place the woman appeared to be. The woman was easily younger than Scully, certainly no older, and about the same height. Her features were softly Asian, but the rich caramel of her skin suggested a mixed ancestry. Filipino, something told her, and yet it seemed to be too simple a label to place on such a naturally beautiful woman. But that was not what Scully found odd about her. What was strange was the youthful vitality that seemed to sparkle in her eye. She wore a tight white knit halter top over her trim, fit frame, leaving her lean and athletic shoulders bare. Over those shoulders and down her back, her full, dark hair with striking streaks of auburn highlights fell like waves of cold fire to just above her hips. Her pants were slightly oversized and made of a fabric that suggested patterned vinyl, of all things. On her feet were calf-high black leather boots with a significant heel. Rings of stainless silver were scattered on her fingers and dangling from her ears. Under any other circumstances, Scully might have dismissed her as a party girl or a runway model, but once again, there was something about her that defied those assumptions. Recovering with her usual grace, Scully flashed a smile and gestured towards the door. "I'm sorry. It started to rain..." The woman looked down at William with a warm smile. "I understand." Her voice betrayed a Northeastern accent, with only the slightest hint of something older and more exotic. "The weather has been crazy lately, hasn't it? Don't worry, take as long as you like." "Thanks," she replied, grateful and still more than a little taken by the clash of expectations. "Hopefully it won't be long." There was a stir in the stroller, and then the first hints of a cry from William. Scully glanced at her watch, and slumped ever so slightly. Sure enough, it was feeding time. Again. The woman seemed to understand immediately. "There's a small table in the back corner, if you need it." She pointed to the corner opposite the front door, not far from the nook with the register. Scully flushed slightly as William began to wail. "That would be great, thanks!" As she quickly maneuvered the stroller further into the shop, she gave the woman another apologetic smile. "I'm so sorry about this. I was really don't want to intrude or make a fuss." "No fuss," the woman said simply. "These things happen with little ones." She wiggled her fingers in greeting to William as they passed. "What's his name?" "William," Scully said with a smile. "And I'm Scully." The woman raised her eyebrow, and she realized how odd that sounded in the present company. "I'm sorry. Force of habit. You can call me Dana." "And you can call me Angel," the woman said with a smile. "Used to giving everyone your last name? Let me guess. You work in Washington." Scully laughed. "That was an easy guess, huh? But yes, I'm an agent with the Bureau." She knew that she wouldn't have to explain further. The woman nodded. "So I guess it's hard enough just leaving the 'Agent' part out." She led Scully over to the table, and moved one of the careworn chairs out of the way so the stroller could fit comfortably without blocking the walkway. "Anything I can get for you?" "No, I'll be fine, thanks," Scully said with a wide smile. This was a very unexpected display of kindness. How many people would go to this kind of trouble, for someone who was not even a customer? It was hard to think of many older women who would do it, let alone someone younger with an apparently modern lifestyle. Then again, Angel was working in a somewhat musty and unassuming antique shop in Georgetown, wasn't she? "Are you sure this is all right?" Scully asked, as Angel stepped behind the counter. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with the owner or anything." Angel flashed her a smile. "I doubt that would happen. I am the owner." Scully blinked, fighting down embarrassment, turning her attention to William and his desire for a meal. "Sorry about that." "Don't worry, I get it all the time," Angel said with a shrug and a smile. "And stop apologizing! You just take care of William, and don't worry about a thing. You're more than welcome to stay until the rain stops." Scully smiled back a silent thanks, and carefully positioned herself so she could open her blouse and set William in her arms to feed. She was more than a little self-conscious, but Angel's friendly manner helped to alleviate those feelings a bit. As William quickly took to the meal with his usual urgency, Scully forced herself to relax and not think of the fact that she was in the middle of a public place. The lack of customers made it a little easier. She felt Angel's gaze upon her, and turned to see the young woman looking at her intently, as if etching the image in her mind. It was slightly unnerving, but not enough to wipe away the feeling of calm and contentment that permeated the room. "Thinking of children?" Scully said, not quite sure why she would say such a thing. But it seemed like the right thing to say. "I was just struck by the look on your face, the way you were looking at your son," Angel said with a slightly wistful look in her eye. "Children are rare in my family." She stepped away from the counter, sliding into one the chair across the table from Scully. "Tell me...is this your only child?" "I had a daughter," Scully replied, before she could think to avoid the subject of Emily. "She died very young, a few years ago." She shook off the sudden wave of grief and regret. "But yes, this is my only child now." Angel nodded in understanding. "I got the sense that you almost couldn't believe that he was right there, in your arms, even after all this time." She leaned back in her chair, her eyes falling on William. "I remember holding my younger brother and thinking the same thing, after he was born. We had all discovered that we were unlikely to have children by then, my sisters and I, so when he came along...well, it was like we were all blessed with motherhood." Scully hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "You can't have children?" "It's not likely," Angel admitted. "It's genetic, they say. All of my siblings are the same way. Even my brother is borderline sterile. We can have children...my sister has a daughter, for instance. But she's the only one." She looked Scully in the eye. "I get the feeling you understand." Scully nodded. "They said I was barren, and would never be able to have children. William was a miracle." She saw the look in Angel's eyes, the acceptance that more information would not be forthcoming. "That was how we regarded my niece," Angel agreed. She looked at William again, and was about to say more when there was the jingling of the bell from the direction of the front door. "Be right back," Angel murmured as she stood, walking towards the counter. Her face became slightly impassive as she regarded the tall figure standing in the doorway, and to Scully it seemed as though she were assessing him, taking his measure. It was an odd impression to have, having had a chance to speak with her, and Scully wondered if that same look had crossed Angel's face when she had walked in. The figure stepped into Scully's view, and immediately she tensed, causing William to shift and coo at her breast. The man was very tall and lean, almost a hair too thin in some places. There was something about the shade of his skin, slightly too pale, that suggested a mild anemia. He wore his dark hair long, well past his shoulders, and it was clumped and stringy from the rain. Droplets of water ran slowly down the sturdy material of his black leather jacket and from the guitar case strapped to his back, wetting the cuffs of his worn denim jeans and black leather boots. But what made Scully tense was the subtle way his jacket hung on his frame, even unzipped and open as it was. Her training told her that he was carrying a weapon, perhaps more than one. "Can I help you?" Angel said to the man, and Scully could tell from her tone of voice that she either had no idea the man was carrying weapons, or she simply did not consider it a matter for concern. The man grinned, and suddenly it seemed as though all possible threats were nothing but phantoms. "I'm not sure. I saw the sign and looked through the window, saw some of the stuff you had here...and I thought I should come inside." "I understand," Angel said, her smile warm. Her eyes flickered to the strap of the guitar case. "You play music?" "I guess you could call it that," the man replied, rolling his eyes. "I've been messing with this thing for longer than I can remember, but I've only been taking it seriously for a few months." "I see." Angel said it in a way that made Scully sure that she did see. "So what are you looking for?" "I don't know." He started looking around at some of the shelves, and then stopped, turning back to Angel. "I'm Craig, by the way," he said, holding out his hand. Angel took it without reservation. "You can call me Angel, Craig. Now let me see if there's something that might be worth something to you." Thankfully, William waited until Angel had taken Craig into another part of the store to start fussing again, and Scully quickly closed her blouse and made herself presentable before lifting him to her shoulder. From across the room, she saw Craig peek over one of the displays, flashing a grin her way. "How old?" he asked, turning for a second to see what Angel was doing before looking back at her for an answer. She glanced at the window, and held back a grimace at the sight of rain still pulsing on the glass. "Four months." "Just old enough to let you sleep," Craig observed, and Scully forced a smile until Angel caught his attention with something. Old enough for some children, maybe, but not Fox Mulder's son. Nope, not a chance. Angel stepped back into view, carrying a small display case with her. She came walking towards the table, Craig in tow, and Scully began shifting so she could return William to his stroller. "I'll just look around for a bit," Scully murmured, but Angel placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "No need." "I wouldn't want to be in the way," Scully insisted, but the hand remained. "You're not in the way," Angel assured her, and she gestured towards one of the other chairs across the table. Craig hesitated for a moment, and then shrugged, sliding the guitar case from his shoulder. Leaning it against the back wall, he slid into the chair, eying the display case, seemingly undisturbed by Scully's discomfort. Scully considered continuing the argument, but the feeling of Angel's hand on her shoulder was like a physical reminder of just how comfortable and content she had been before Craig had walked in the door. She looked up at Angel and smiled, her expression relenting. Angel nodded, and stepped over to the chair she had been sitting on. "I've had my share of musicians walk in the door," Angel said with a smile, as she slid the display case onto the table. A number of guitar picks were arranged in the case with care, none of them touching. In fact, they seemed to be displayed like rings or other fine jewelry. But from what Scully could tell, they were completely ordinary, without even a tag or label to distinguish them from something he could buy for a dollar in any music store. She saw the same mixture of confusion and skepticism flash across Craig's face, and he regarded Angel with a wry grin. "What makes this collection so special?" "It's not the collection, per se," Angel said carefully, as if parsing her words. She slid the display case a little closer. "Take one of them between your fingers. Trust me." Craig's expression remained the same, but he did as he was asked. At random, he chose one of the picks and lifted it from the case, holding it in his fingers as if preparing to play. He looked at her expectantly for a moment, but then his expression became confused as he looked down at the object between his fingers. He looked towards Angel, and then his eyes lost focus slightly, as if he were no longer concerned with what was happening in the room. As if reading her mind, Angel glanced at Scully with a slight, knowing smile, and then returned her attention to Craig as he seemed to regard her with awe. Looking down at the pick, he shook his head as if to clear it, and then looked Angel in the eyes. "I didn't imagine that," he said, his tone making it clear that it was not a question. "No," Angel confirmed. "Would you like to see any of the others?" Craig considered the notion, and then shook his head. "Not right now. I have a few things to think about." He passed the guitar pick back to Angel. "More than a few, I would say," Angel replied, and Scully couldn't help but see the look of shock and uncertainty in Craig's eyes. "But maybe there's something we can do about that." Craig stood, grabbing his guitar at the same time. "I've got some business to take care of for a few days. I'll be by when I'm done?" "Of course," Angel said, placing the display case on the counter by the register. Craig nodded a farewell to Scully, waving his fingers to the dozing William, before making his way to the front door and leaving without another word. Angel hesitated as the sound of the door bells faded, and then she turned to Scully with a slight smile on her lips. "I'm sorry if that was a little awkward for you, Dana," she said, as she slid the guitar pick back into place, and then returned the case to its previous location. "But I thought it was important to work with him now, rather than later." Scully carefully placed William back into the stroller, bundling him in the blankets, and then slumped back into her seat. She should have known that something strange was going to happen. This was her life, after all. Something as breathtakingly simple as a walk in the fresh air couldn't possibly take place without some foray into the twilight zone. "Dana?" Angel asked, looking her in the eye with concern. "Sorry," Scully said, laughing softly as she ran a hand through her hair. "I was just thinking how wonderfully normal this day was turning out to be, until the two of you...what exactly was that all about, anyway?" Angel smiled. "Let's just say that I deal in special items." "Special in what way?" Scully asked, glancing at some of the nearby objects. She pointed to a relatively plain gold bracelet sitting next to a small sculpture of a hummingbird. "Is this one of those items?" "They all are," Angel said matter-of-factly. "But I think that you have good instincts. I think that you would like to see what is special about that bracelet. Go ahead. Pick it up." Scully glanced at William, concerned for a moment that something might happen to her, but then she recalled that Craig was simply given something to think about. What harm could there be in that? Leaning back in her chair, she grabbed the gold bracelet in one hand and held it in the air between her and Angel. "So what's so..." <...she regarded herself in the mirror, the way that her hair was falling in just the perfect way over the creamy skin of her bare shoulders, the way the black straps drew one's gaze down towards the wonderfully low neckline of her new dress. It had taken everything she could spare to buy it, but after seeing it in the catalogue, it was simply perfect for what she had planned. She turned on one heel, inspecting the way the dress draped over her curves, the way the slit on the one side showed just the right amount of leg. She knew they were her best feature, the one thing he liked best. At least that's what he would say, even as he was staring into her green eyes with total devotion. How long had she been waiting for this moment? Almost five years? Five years of spending every day at his side, waiting for the moment when he would recognize that she was there, that he would ask her out. She could remember how nervous he had been, approaching her after hours as she emerged from the locker room. Well, she had every intention of knocking him off his feet tonight. Turning towards the mirror once more, she lifted the locket with her mother's wedding picture to her neck. Maybe this would be the one...even if it was too late for her mother to be there to see it. She reached behind her neck to clasp the chain of the necklace, and smiled as the light caught the gleam of the bracelet that Danny had given her for her birthday...> Scully blinked, her eyes coming to focus on the bracelet, and then she dropped it on the table. She stared at it for a moment, not quite believing what had just happened. And then she looked up to Angel, who was regarding her with a questioning gaze. "What...what just happened?" Scully managed. "A memory," Angel said calmly, softly. "This particular piece associates strongly with the memory of that night. The owner was proposed to a few hours later, and for whatever reason, that is the moment that became a part of the bracelet." "A part of the bracelet?" Scully said, her composure returning. "You're saying that some woman's memory was...what? Imprinted onto the bracelet?" "That's exactly what I'm saying," Angel agreed. She took the bracelet from the table, and stood to replace it on the shelf. "Or do you have a more reasonable explanation for what you just experienced?" Scully laughed to herself, remembering the vivid quality of the scene that had played itself out in her mind. "But it wasn't just images...I actually felt what she must have been feeling. I...I have no idea what I'm saying." "I think you put it very concisely," Angel assured her. She sat back down, leaning towards Scully with a slight sigh. "Dana, I could try explaining this to you, but I don't think that is what you need right now. Just as it wasn't what Craig needed, either." She looked towards William, who was stirring slightly as he found a more comfortable position. "I have the feeling that this is hardly your first experience with something that is difficult to explain." "You could say that," Scully admitted. She laughed to herself, and then turned towards the window. "It's stopped raining." "Yes, it has," Angel said, without looking to see if it was actually the case. "And I think it ought to be nice weather for the rest of the afternoon. You ought to be able to make it home without worry." She looked at William again, that slight wistful smile on her lips, and then turned her gaze back to Scully. "I'm glad that I could help today. Please feel free to come back again." Scully stood, not quite sure what she was supposed to say, or what she wanted to say. "Maybe I'll stop by next time I take William for a walk." It sounded insincere, even to her, but it was the best she could do. "Of course," Angel said, her smile genuine. Scully took hold of the stroller, and after a quick glance at the bracelet, she walked out of the store. She was too lost in thought to hear the bells as the door closed behind her.
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