Title: First Night Author: Spookyteacher Rating: PG Category: V, A Subcategory: MSR Spoilers: Three Words Archive: Spooky Awards, Epehemeral, HOF are okay. I've already sent it to Gossamer via atxc-xfc. All other site managers who want to archive it-- please just e-mail me (spkyteach@aol.com) where you have it. I want to visit your very tasteful sites! Summary: My muse came back! After Three Words, this little story about Mulder's first night home kept rattling around my brain. This is my take on his first night home... with Scully. Feedback: Please send all comments to spkyteach@aol.com. Notes: My other stories can be found at my archive, http://www.geocities.com/spookyteacher (Spookyteacher's Classroom X). Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, the Lone Gunmen, Skinner, Krycek, and the Smoking Man, et al, are the creative property of Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions, and Fox Television. You guys have written them so well I can't resist having a go at it myself. I really am a classroom teacher, which is synonymous with POOR. Hint, hint... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ First Night by Spookyteacher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mulder's Apartment 9:25PM The openings in the window shade revealed that darkness had fallen hours before. The fish, minus one molly, swam in the tank, as they always did. The computer sat on the desk, minus its hard drive, which had been taken shortly after its owner had been taken. Fox Mulder sat on his couch, wearing his glasses, and reading the latest issue of The Magic Bullet. He had to catch up on the latest conspiracy theories and the Gunmen's tabloid was the best way to do that. He looked up briefly as he heard a distant clink. He took off his glasses and stared at the light coming through the kitchen doorway. His face filled with an odd mixture of pain and desire. Dana Scully put the last dish in the dishwasher and closed the door. As she stood up, she stretched her back. She was still getting used to the extra weight. She was now in the last trimester of her pregnancy and her back seemed to protesting loudest right now. She looked at her watch and slowly exhaled. It had been a long day, but one she had dared not believe would ever happen. She smiled as she remembered the day. This morning, tests showed them that Mulder was in perfect health, completely healed. The neurologic disorder he'd suffered from before his abduction was now history. He pressed to be released from the hospital when he was told that. After checking him out of the hospital and coming home, she and Mulder had shared a late dinner. He said he wanted Chinese food. She would've gone to China herself to get the food if needed, but, instead, they'd ordered take-out. Over a leisurely dinner, they'd talked about Mrs. Scully, Skinner, The Gunmen, and what was happenning in the world. He'd now been thoroughly briefed on the Presidential Election happenings, the crash of Mir, and the latest economic troubles. However, they had not discussed The X-Files, his abduction, or her pregnancy. Mulder had asked her for time. He said he needed to process everything. She knew what he meant. He hadn't even been able to say the word "baby." In fact, she'd won the argument about who should clean-up by telling him he could return the favor when she was nine months pregnant with ankles the size of cantaloupes. He'd become very quiet and almost sullen as he left the table. She'd known this would be hard, but it saddened her that he wasn't absolutely ecstatic. She headed into the living room and smiled when she saw Mulder sound asleep sitting up on the couch. She took in the scene for several seconds. He was so at home and peaceful sleeping there, it was as if the events of the last six months had not happened. Mulder had not been abducted. Their long search for him had never happened. He had not died. She had not attended his funeral and watched his coffin lowered into the cold Earth. A jab at her side brought her back to reality. It all had happened, despite how incredulous it was. The baby's movements inside her told her it had not been a dream. She was pregnant. Mulder had died. But, he was back. And she would never let him go again. She crossed over to the couch and lowered herself carefully so she was sitting next to him. She slowly snuggled in next to him, wrapping her arm around his chest. After stealing one last glance at his serene face, she closed her eyes. Just as she was drifting off, Mulder's body jerked. She opened her eyes and looked at him, concerned. His face was contorted in pain and his body convulsed again. She knew it was a nightmare and moved to comfort him. "Shhhh..." she soothed as she smoothed his hair and forehead. His eyes flew open and he sat up. He looked terrified as he took in his surroundings. "It's okay," Scully continued to soothe, rubbing his arm. "It was just a nightmare. You're home." Mulder looked over at her and relief flooded his face. He leaned back against the couch and rubbed his face roughly with his hands. She moved to hug him. She held him only for a moment before he jerked away. There was a coldness in his expression that frightened her. He stood and walked away from the couch. "Mulder," she said, hoping to pull him back to her. He stood with his back to her and shifted his stance from leg to leg. He was full of nervous energy, but didn't know what to do about it. He looked to his left and spotted his basketball. He reached for it and started dribbling the ball. Scully just watched him for a couple seconds, but frowned when she remembered what time it was. "Mulder, it's almost ten. Won't that upset your neighbors?" Mulder abruptly stopped dribbling and spun around to face her. "Well, they'll know I'm home." She smiled and shifted on the couch, trying to get more comfortable. "Guess you're a little.. uncomfortable these days," Mulder observed. She glanced up at him. "I mean, carrying the...," he attempted. She nodded. "It is a little uncomfortable, but nothing like morning sickness. That was awful. And I hadn't told anyone, except Skinner, about the baby, yet, so I was having to hide it. I think everyone thought I had a stomach virus for three months. But, now, it's not so bad. At least I can feel the baby moving inside me now. It's kind of strange, but wonderful. Mom told me that I was just as active as..." She stopped as she noticed Mulder had walked out of the room and was standing in the foyer. He couldn't even listen to her talk about her pregnancy. "Mulder... what's wrong?" He had his back to her as he grabbed the top of the door frame and swung slightly against it. He didn't answer for a long time. "Mulder, I need to talk with you about things. About me. About the X-Files. About the baby. Can we talk about those things?" He swung on the door frame for a few moments longer as she waited for an answer. Then, he let go and turned to face her. "I need some sleep, Scully. I think my body's still healing..." "It is," she agreed, frustrated at the change of subject but allowing it. He looked at her face. "So...I'm going to go to bed, I think." His eyes did not leave her face. She tried to determine what he wanted. "Okay..." She hesitated for a moment. "I'll see you in the morning, then." She stood up and started toward the chair where she'd left her coat. "I'll bring some breakfast..." "No." She stopped and looked at him, confused. "Stay, please." His voice was low, barely audible. She looked at him, trying to gauge his feelings. She decided he was afraid of being alone right now. "Okay, I can sleep anywhere these days. I sleep on the couch a lot." He smiled. "Scully, I think there's room enough in there for you, too." He looked toward the bedroom before looking back at her. He was smiling at her. It was the first real smile she'd seen since he'd returned. She happily returned it. They walked into the bedroom without touching. She stopped by the bed and sat down, suddenly a bit awkward. She had brought nothing to sleep in. "Hey, Scully." She swiveled around and saw him standing at his chest of drawers. "Why don't you see if this Oxford sweatshirt'll fit you?" He tossed the gray shirt in her direction. "I hope so, few things fit over this belly," she complained, pushing her stomach out further. Mulder stopped digging in his drawer for his t-shirt and smiled briefly at her comical attempts. She smiled widely, enjoying his smile before she headed to the bathroom and changed into the sweatshirt. It was a little tight in the middle, but long enough to appease her modesty. She opened the bathroom door and was greeted by Mulder. "Next," he called as he passed her and shut the door. Scully tossed her clothes onto a chair near the bed and pulled back the covers. She crawled between the sheets and pulled the covers back over her. As she laid back against the pillow, she remembered all the nights she'd spent here while Mulder was gone. She pulled the pillow close and realized the pillow no longer smelled like Mulder. The bathroom door opened and Mulder walked around to the other side of the bed. He wriggled into bed and let out a sigh. "There's no place like home," he mumbled. "Mmm hmmm," Scully concurred. He kicked his feet wildly, startling her. She sat up and watched his fierce movements, a bit concerned. Finally, he stopped kicking when his feet stuck out, free of the sheets. He turned to lay back and saw her looking at him. He noted the amusement in her eyes. "You're free, Mulder," she said before laying back. His face relaxed a bit and he, too, laid back. He drew a pillow toward him and squeezed it, enjoying the feel of his own bed. He inhaled and his eyes snapped toward Scully. She was laying on her back, her eyes closed and red hair spilling across the pillow. He could clearly see her enlarged belly under the covers. While he watched, her hand moved to her stomach and patted a spot on her right side. "Kicking?" he asked. She opened her eyes and looked over at him. "Always when I want to sleep." He smiled at her. "Want to feel?" she asked as she reached for his hand. The smile left his face as he jerked his hand back. She dropped her hand to her side and looked away from him. He could see pain filling her face. "I'm sorry, Scully. I...I just can't... deal with... this, yet. We'll talk. I just can't right now. Just give me time." She nodded, but did not look at him. He could tell she was still in pain. He reached out and took her hand in his. This prompted her to look at him again. "Just give me time to handle all this, okay?" he tried to assure her. "I only have a a little over a month until..." "I know," he cut her off. "I'll be ready." He then let go of her hand and pushed her so her back was to him. He slid behind her, positioning his arms around her shoulders. Scully didn't smile, though. She realized he was carefully avoiding any contact with her stomach. Her eyes started to fill with tears. He kissed her cheek. "Night, Scully." He closed his eyes. She kissed his hand. She closed her eyes, stopping her tears before they could be shed, and pulled him closer. The End ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please send feedback to spkyteach@aol.com. Thanks!