"Till We Meet Again"

MSR/Mulder and Scully prompt: Mulder and Scully think they see William.

**Set after the series ended**

Mulder slowly eased the car into a spot in the parking lot of a nearby public beach. They had been moving city to city, town to town for about six months, since they fled from the United States after the farce of a Military trial and then finally, the killing of Cancer Man.

He turned off the engine and stared out at the grey, overcast sky that threw shadows of clouds across the quiet stretch of beach. Seagulls squawked and flew through the chilled autumn wind looking for their next meal.

Silence came from across the car where Scully sat, tucked into a protective curl. He reached out to touch her. To make contact, if not emotionally then at least physically. To keep her grounded.

He cupped the back of her neck. Her cold, clammy skin shocking him as he pulled her in for a hug. She did not resist. She was a shell of the vibrant woman he loved. That woman, had withdrawn into her own heart.

Thinking one saw their long lost child tended to make one want to leave themselves, their pain, their own existence. He was tempted to follow suit, but she needed him. Scully's need for him kept him sane after a beautiful little boy sat down at a nearby table. When the precious little toddler wore a hat that looked exactly like the hat Scully had ordered from a boutique shop that catered to UFO lovers. It had been her attempt to keep their son connected to his father, who was on the run and forced to leave his loved ones behind.

A worn, dog eared picture of William in that hat was safely folded in Mulder's wallet. It stayed there until late nights when Scully was safely asleep in his arms did he take it out.

"Scully," Mulder said shakily into her ear. The silk of her hair caressing his lips as he kissed her cheek then her forehead. He kissed her eyes next, where tears had begun to fall, one at a time.

"I'm here Scully." He said before he pressed his lips against hers. His warm, chapped lips trying to breath life back into her chilled, unmoving ones. He kept them on hers till he felt her slight movement. Air being sucked into her lungs. She gave in. She would continue living.

"Mulder, I miss him." She whispered against his mouth as her hand reached up to cup the side of his face. Their connection kept.

"I know. Me too." He replied with all the pain and longing he had kept hidden spilling out.

Sometime later, people would say that a lovely couple walking side by side, arms around each other passed them on the beach. Little would they know that two hearts broken, yet learning how to heal, together, walked by.