TITLE: Blessing 
AUTHOR: aRcaDIaNFall$ 
FEEDBACK: arcadianfalls@yahoo.com.au 
RATING: PG 
SPOILERS: Existence 
CLASSIFICATION: MSR 
SUMMARY: From the last scene in existence. Scully counts her blessings.
AUTHORS NOTE: Again, I'm sure plenty have writers have already been
here, done this, but (by popular demand! *g*) I've got my own version
of post-Existence events. Enjoy! :] 
--> http://www.geocities.com/arcadianfalls/ 
  

Blessing 
by aRcaDIaNFall$ 
  

Exquisite. Lips so full, so soft; a mouth so warm, so gentle; a
connection so sweet, so intimate, so special. Every intense gaze and
whispered promise and fleeting touch is in that moment. Every second of
comfort, of empathy and yearning and warmth. Every hour spent wondering
and wishing and grieving. Every day spent together, every night spent
apart. And not just two of us now, but three. With this third something
tangible is formed, something to hold onto, something real. Even as I
kiss him, one hand grasping his arm, wanting to never relinquish the
grip, the other hand on his face, fingertips tracing scars and angles
and spirit, it doesn't begin to express the warmth I feel burning
inside me. I want this man to never let me go. I want to soak up this
beauty, this euphoric passion. I would relive those eight years in a
heartbeat if only for this moment again. 

A knock. I know it's my mom; she called earlier. But I don't pull away
from Mulder. It only adds an urgency to the kiss. I need so badly to
share this love with him. But he slows, pulls away and puts a finger to
my lips. I gaze at him, smiling at the sparkle in his eye. His finger
moves from my lips to my cheek and he caresses with his fingertips
before cupping the back of my head, pulling me closer in a brief hug.
Silently, he draws back, kisses my forehead, then releases me properly,
standing back, my baby in his arms. My heart aches at the beauty of it.

Overwhelmed, I give him a small smile. I have to answer the door, I
realise. Mom is calling my name, sounding worried. 

"Coming," I call, and I head to the door. But I pause with hand on the
knob and turn back to look at him. He stands, cradling the bundle,
smiling down at the baby, that same broad smile as when I first handled
him the baby, the same smile as when he kissed me.  

I draw a breath and open the door. Mom stands there, cell phone in
hand. 

"Dana!" she admonishes, looking harried. "You worried me. I was about
to call you again just to check..."  

I let her in and only then does she see Mulder standing there, baby in
his arms. I watch as she approaches them, bending to kiss William's
forehead, then stretching to kiss Mulder's cheek in greeting. Son in
law. "Good to see you again, Fox." 

Mulder smiles, sheepish. How complete he looks, how unabashedly joyous.
Our world has been turned on its head and it's a blessing. 

"I should let you two have some time," Mulder says quietly, glancing at
me. He drops his gaze to the baby's face for another second and I can
see how reluctant he is to let go. But I take the bundle passed to me.
Already the warm weight seems so familiar, the tiny sleepy face so
precious. I love this child so much. 

Mulder reaches, taking the baby's hand between his thumb and
forefinger. "Hey there, scout. Gettin' sleepy, huh?" 

I smile as William yawns widely, then settles again, his steady gaze on
Mulder's face, almost curious. That's your daddy, precious. That man
will risk his life time and time again because he loves you so much. 

Mulder frees his finger, touching the baby's head lightly before
lifting his gaze to me. He looks sheepish, grinning from ear to ear. A
little shy, too. Mom's arrival, though bad timing, probably did us a
favour. We're both so flooded with relief and joy. We need to be
cautious how we take this, not because we're not certain but because we
are. There's no need to rush. There's so much to enjoy along the way. 

He leans in to kiss me, gently nipping my lower lip, lingering a
second. A quick goodbye kiss, but nothing perfunctoral about it. He
pulls away. I'll be back later. I smile. I know. 

He leaves. I lock the door behind him, then turn to face Mom. She's
busied herself in the kitchen, heating up a casserole she's brought me.
I wait, gently rocking my son in the silence. 
She speaks finally. "I don't see how that could have been so hard to
tell me." 

She's not mad, though a little annoyed. She hates being kept in the
dark. I've done that to her too often. 

"Mom, just..." I search for words. "Just let us go at our own pace.
Please?" 

She wipes her hands on the dishtowel and comes over to me. I can feel
the disapproval. She just wants a normal life for me.  
I duck my gaze to my sleeping baby, but she tilts my chin up. Her frown
softens and she smiles. "It's so good to see you happy." 

Relieved, I release a sigh. "Yeah," I agree softly, and she lets me go.
I know she wants a hold and so I pass the baby to her, watching as she
smiles down at her grandson, watching the practiced way she rocks him,
patting him lightly through the blanket. I think of holding my son,
imagine his weight in my arms. I think of Mulder's kiss. Two such
simple, innocent actions of which I could not have been more certain.
Happy can't begin to describe the joy, the peace, the relief, the
overwhelming warmth and beauty. This life, this beauty is mine. It's a
blessing. 
  

fin.