A couple of people commenting on my previous stories said that they were disappointed I had stopped short of a full Mulder and Scully having a baby AU - sooooo...here we go!
Starting, of course, with a prelude alternative ending to Per Manum...
Mulder lay on Scully's couch and allowed his mind to drift…
Did he want this?
He was terrified at what this would do to their relationship. How he would cope with watching the woman he loved carrying his baby and not be able to be with her, really with her…
He'd been amazed that she'd asked. I mean Scully knew him better than anyone, why would she want to have his baby? His genes…his fucked up family…not that any of them were left, but what they both knew would be enough to put off an average person.
Scully was far from average…she was spectacular…and she wanted to have his child. She could have chosen an anonymous donor.
He'd made his choice when he'd said yes…the fact was that she wanted this and he would do anything in his power to make this work, to give her what she needed.
Did he want this? He wanted a child, he thought with sudden and blinding clarity…he wanted a child and there was no other woman on the planet that he would ever want to have a child with.
He wanted Dana Scully to carry his baby. Maybe this wasn't conventional, maybe this wasn't exactly the way he had dreamed…but Scully could be carrying part of him inside her, she could give birth to his son…his
Maybe this wasn't conventional, maybe this wasn't exactly the way he had dreamed…but Scully could be carrying part of him inside her, she could give birth to his son…his daughter…
Mulder closed his eyes and imagined walking down the street holding on to a tiny little hand…his hazel eyes shining back up at him, her silky red hair bouncing as she chatted and skipped along happily. Mulder imagined the freckles on her nose and that bright Scully smile that lit up her whole face and made her eyes sparkle.
Did he want this? Oh hell, yes!
Mulder woke at the sound of Scully coming into her apartment; he leapt to his feet and quickly straightened his clothes. "Erm…sorry Scully…I guess I was waiting and fell asleep…"
Scully smiled weakly and looked away, he could see that she'd been crying and his heart started to hammer heavily in his chest. Oh no…please…this was our last chance…our final hope…
Scully coughed, "So…the doctor…"
"What did he say?" Mulder cut in nervously
Scully smirked, "As I was saying…"
Mulder looked away uncomfortably so Scully stepped a little closer, "Mulder?"
He looked at her again and winced, Scully was actually strangely relieved that he looked as nervous as she'd felt…maybe she could have asked him to come with her after all. It might have been kinder to both of them.
"Mulder…" Scully started slowly, "…it's early days…"
At that Mulder's jaw dropped a little and Scully saw his eyes brighten, her heart started to hammer at the excitement that she could clearly see in his eyes.
"…But it appears that we are going to have a baby!" Scully finished with a grin and Mulder watched a tear slide down her cheek.
Happy tears… Mulder thought in wonder, they were happy tears; he'd never even considered that possibility!
He stepped forward and pulled Scully into a tight embrace, she laughed happily and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Our miracle…" Mulder spoke before he realised what he'd said and then pulled back self-consciously. "I mean…congratulations Scully, I'm so happy for you."
Scully smiled a little sadly and nodded, "Thank you, Mulder, for everything…I mean for…"
Mulder laughed nervously, "Yeah sure…anything…"
Scully reached up with a slightly concerned expression and only when he felt her brush his cheek with her fingertips did he realise that he was crying.
"Mulder?" Scully asked cautiously.
Mulder shrugged with a little embarrassment, "Erm…sorry, Scully. I guess I'm happy…I mean for you…I'm just, you know…"
"Happy?" Scully asked and bit her bottom lips over her smile.
He nodded and looked away for a second and then looked back at her, "So what's next? I mean do you need anything? Can I do anything?"
She shook her head decisively, "Well I guess your part is done, the rest is on me…"
Mulder looked so heartbroken at her statement that Scully felt her stomach flip.
"I mean, I don't want you to feel…obliged…"
"You're my closest friend Scully, my only real friend. What if I want to help?"
Scully felt tears well in her eyes again and she started to wonder if the hormones were kicking in already, "Well I guess I did wonder…I mean you're my closest friend as well and you are the baby's father…"
Mulder's breath stopped at that word. Scully had used a lot of medical words surrounding his role so far but this was the first time she had actually called him the father of her child. He wasn't just a donor anymore…
"Would you like to be my Lamaze partner Mulder? I think I'd feel better if you were there, you could even come to my doctors appointments…if you'd like…I don't want you to feel pressured into being more involved than…"
Mulder grinned and nodded slightly goofily, "No…I mean…yes…if you're sure I'd really like that…if you're sure…I don't want to presume…"
Scully nodded, "I'd like you to be involved Mulder, I wouldn't have asked you if I didn't…you can be as involved as you feel comfortable with."
Mulder nodded wordlessly. He wanted everything, but he'd take as much of her as she was willing to share.
"I was thinking on the way home, are you happy for me to tell my mom that you are the father? I mean I'll explain the situation and everything, I just think she might take this a little better if she at least knew who the father of her grandchild will be."
Mulder nodded, "Sure, I mean if you think knowing that I'm the…father…won't be awkward for her."
Scully laughed, "My mom knows you're a good man…I think she'll feel better if she knows that the child is yours and that you'll be involved…"
He was more than a little shocked to think that Margaret Scully might be reassured by finding out that he was the father of her daughter's baby, but he nodded cooperatively. "However you want to do this Scully…" Mulder involuntarily found himself reaching out and placed his hand over her stomach.
Scully lost all the air in her lungs and stood frozen, watching Mulder in surprise.
He started to pull back, "Sorry Scully, I…"
She shook her head and forced her breath to return to something approaching normal, then covered his hand, holding it in place. "No…I mean I just wasn't expecting…" Scully laughed and squeezed his hand then looked up into his eyes and smiled, one of the ones that brightened her face and made her eyes sparkle, "Mulder, I think things are about to get personal…"