Chapter 1 – Big Brother

Scully's Apartment

October 1'st 1992, 2 pm

Dana Scully was nervous to say the least. She hoped she was doing the right thing. Ever since the father of her son had passed away, nearly two years prior, she had feared for her son's future. She knew how important it was for a young boy to have a male role model in his life. She feared that his grandfather and his two uncles he saw too rarely, wasn't able to cut it for him. He needed someone nearer. Someone he could see more often. Sure, he was merely six years old, but if she waited it could be too late. She needed what was best for her son. And she believed he needed a male he could trust. Someone who would offer their time to get to know him. Someone he could talk to about sports, cars, fights, and girls. Of course he was no way near that age yet, but one day he would be. And when that day came, Scully would make sure there would be someone he could talk to about it. She was very aware that no boy talked to his mother about stuff like that. Scully had always known of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America organization, and when she had talked to her friend, Ellen, about her fears for her son's future, she had reminded her of it. It had seemed like the perfect solution, but now she was having second thoughts about the whole thing. What is this guy turned out to be cruel? What if he didn't like her son? She didn't want to break his little heart again.

"Why are you nervous, mommy?" he asked her, crawling into her lap.

"Why do you think I am nervous, honey?" she asked him sweetly, stroking his auburn locks of hair out of his face.

"You're biting your lip. Just like when grandma and grandpa is coming over, and you're afraid you haven't cleaned good enough", he shared his wisdom with her, looking at her so innocently with his big blue eyes.

"Well enough, honey", she corrected him, kissing his forehead. "Mommy is nervous because your new friend is coming today and she just hopes you will like him."

"Do you think he likes cowboys and Indians?" he asked, the subject being his latest obsession.

"Most boys do."

"Then I am sure I will like him", he smiled at his mother assuring.

"Of course, honey. Why didn't I think of that", she chuckled.

There sounded a knock on the door, making the little boy gasp as he was unable to hide how excited he was.

"That's him, mommy, that's him", he yelled running towards the door to open it.

"Calm down, little man", Scully giggled as he nearly tripped over his own feet running towards the door.

As the little guy opened the door and looked judgingly up at him, Mulder could have sworn his heart stopped beating. He had been so nervous ever since he was picked out to be this boy's Big Brother. He had signed up to the program, wanting to help some youngsters with their assumingly tough youth. He had figured he would help them with their homework, maybe shoot some hoops with them. He hadn't figured they would assign him to such a young boy. He had no idea what six-year-olds did. Did they even go to school?

"Do you like cowboys and Indians?" he asked him, his blue eyes piercing his very soul, as Mulder was still standing in the door, symbolically waiting for the boy to let him in.

"Of course", Mulder answered smiling. "Indians more than cowboys though."

His answer seemed to have pleased the little fellow, because a big grin spread on his innocent, freckled face and he let him into the apartment; into his life.

"I think he's nice, mommy", he tried to whisper to someone inside the apartment, failing slightly on the whispering part.

Mulder stepped into the apartment, and was slightly shocked by the woman that greeted him there. She didn't look old enough to be a mother for once. Secondly she was the most beautiful creature he had ever laid his eyes upon. She had hair reaching her shoulders, same color as her son's and the same blue eyes as him as well. She was so very short, so small; she looked like Mulder could just pick her up and run off with her. Her petite frame made her look fragile, but at the same time Mulder got the impression that this woman could do anything she set her mind to. Something about her made her look strong and independent. Realizing he must have been staring he introduced himself.

Scully couldn't help but admire the man that walked into her apartment. He was tall, dark and mysterious. He had dark, brown hair, which looked slightly messy, but at the same time she wanted nothing more than to run her fingers through it. His eyes were a dark green, mesmerizing her as he looked directly into her own eyes. Even though it was undoubtedly the most handsome eyes she had ever gazed into, something sad was hidden deep behind them. That something made him look so fragile under his impressing exterior that probably fooled most people into believing he was the strong and cheery guy he wanted to be. She snapped out of her trance as his voice kept her from getting lost in his eyes, and made her come back to reality.

"I'm Fox Mulder", he told her extending his hand to her.

"Hi Fox, I am Dana Scully", she told him taking his hand in hers.

"I would like it if you called me Mulder. I am not too fond of my first name", he explained, slowly letting go of her warm and perfect hand.

"Sure, Mulder", she smiled at him. "I guess you already met this little fellow…" she said motioning for the boy who looked examining up at his Big Brother.

"Yeah, we met", he said squatting so he was on the same level as the little boy. "So you like cowboys and Indians?"

"Yes", he said nervously taking his mother's hand.

"When I was a little boy my father and I were Indian guides", he told him smiling.

"What's an Indian guide?" the boy asked tilting his head slightly.

"It's someone who knows the woods just as well as a real Indian", Mulder explained expressively.

"Just as well as an Indian?" he asked, clearly impressed.

"Well, almost as well", Mulder grinned, standing up again. "I must admit to you… ehm… Mrs.? Scully", he attempted.

"I am a miss… or actually I am a doctor. But you don't have to be so formal, Mulder", she smiled at him, her smile making his heart skip a beat.

"Alright. Well I must admit I have never been a Big Brother before. I don't have much experience with kids, and quite honestly I was expecting an older child. I… I am really not very experienced", he tried to explain himself. "I understand if you would rather have someone more qualified assigned to you."

"You don't wanna be my friend?" the little guy asked sadly, already feeling like he had connected with his Big Brother.

After years of studying human behavior, the next thing Scully did, revealed more about her to Mulder than she would have been comfortable. As she picked her son up, hoisting him on his hip, holding him tight, and calming him down, it was clear to Mulder, that no one would ever get to hurt this little man. His mother would prevent that at any cost.

"Aw, honey, that wasn't what Mulder meant", she explained. "He is just afraid because he has never had a friend your age before. Just like you have never had a friend like him before."

"It's okay, Mulder", he said after having contemplated his mother's words. "I'll learn you how to be friends with me", he smiled wide.

"Teach, honey", Scully corrected him, kissing his cheek.

"Well…" Mulder sought assurance with Scully before he made a promise to the fragile little boy.

She nodded at him, assuring him that she was more than okay with him being her son's mentor.

"Of course I would be happy to have you as my friend. But first you need to tell me something", Mulder said serious.

"What?" he asked him nervously.

"What's your name, little guy?" Mulder smiled broadly at him.

"I'm Aidan", he said pointing to his chest, still hoisted on his mother's hip.

"Nice to meet you, Aidan", Mulder said shaking the boy's hand, making sure not to squeeze it too much.

XxXxX

Scully's Apartment

October 1'st 1992, 8 pm

It had been a long day for Aidan, and he was finally asleep in his little bed, in his room. After having met his new friend, they had gone to the park. Mulder had pushed him on the swings, helped him climb a tree, and they had even gone to a museum that had a Wild West exhibition. When they got home to the apartment again Aidan had had so much to tell his mother he had hardly been able to control himself. Scully had been waiting with dinner, as they got back from their little trip. At first Mulder hadn't expected to be invited to stay for dinner. But as he was about to leave, Scully stopped him.

"Are you sure you have to leave, Mulder? I have prepared enough to eat for you as well", she told him.

"You have?" he couldn't help but being slightly surprised.

"Of course. You're giving your time to be with my son, the least I can do is feed you", she said in all honesty.

"Oh", he said taken aback by her sincerity. "He's a great kid, Scully. It's a pleasure to spend some time with him. And I am truly grateful you're giving me this chance."

"Well, you haven't done anything to make me distrust you. And Aidan really seems to like you", Scully let him know.

After they had eaten their dinner, Mulder had stayed for a movie as well. Aidan had chosen the 3'rd 'Back to the Future'-movie, which was, of course, the one that takes place in the Wild West. At the end of the movie, the little guy had fallen asleep with his head in his mother's lap, and his small legs sprawled over Mulder's bigger ones. As Mulder carried Aidan to his bed, Scully was reminded of all the things the little guy missed out on. She felt guilty for all the things she weren't able to give her son, everything a father could have given him. All the things she so desperately wanted him to have. She went after Mulder into Aidan's room, and watched as he gently laid the little boy down on his bed and carefully pulled his covers up around his shoulders. As Mulder had tugged him in, Scully went over and kissed Aidan's forehead before leaving the room after Mulder.

"Thanks for a lovely day, Scully. Aidan is truly a special kid; you have done a great job with him", he let her know.

"Thanks, Mulder", she smiled, appreciating his kind words. "Would you like a cup of coffee before you drive home? I would like to have a talk to you, if you have time."

"A cup of coffee sounds great", he agreed.

They sat down at the dinner table as Scully poured them some coffee.

"I just realized, Mulder, I don't even know what it is that you do. I take it you have a job?" she asked him.

"Yes, I am an FBI agent actually", he let her know.

"Really? Wow!" she said raising her eyebrows in surprise. "Which part of the FBI?"

Up until now Mulder had almost forgot. His day with Aidan and Scully had been so filled with happiness and laughter that he had almost forgot about the darkness that usually filled his whole existence.

"I work on a unit called the x-files", he informed her, figuring out how to explain his work without scaring her away.

"The x-files? I have never heard of something called the x-files. What is it?" she asked taking a sip of her coffee.

"Well… more or less it has to do with unexplained phenomena. UFO's, aliens, ghosts…" Scully was clearly taken aback by this as her eyebrows went to her hairline. "I… I don't know how to explain this… I…" he brought his one hand up from the table and rubbed his temples. How could he make her understand?

"What is it, Mulder?" she asked calmly taking his hand, the one that was still resting on the table, into her own. "I don't care if you work cases regarding unexplained incidents. Whatever it is, you can tell me."

"Please don't laugh at me, Scully", he nearly pleaded, squeezing her hand.

"Of course not, Mulder. Why would I laugh at you?" she knitted her eyebrows in confusion.

"I was twelve when it happened. My sister was eight. She just disappeared out of her bed one night. Just gone, vanished. No note, no phone calls, no evidence of anything."

"You never found her", Scully stated more than asked.

"Tore the family apart. No one would talk about it. There were no facts to confirm, nothing to offer any hope."

"I am sorry, Mulder. What did you do?"

"Eventually, I went off to school in England and got accepted into Oxford where I got a bachelor in psychology. I came back, and got recruited by the bureau. Seems I had a natural aptitude for applying behavioral models to criminal cases. My success allowed me a certain freedom to pursue my own interests. And that's when I came across the X-Files", he said turning his gaze from the table to her eyes.

"By accident?" she asked.

"At first, it looked like a garbage dump for UFO sightings, alien abduction reports, the kind of stuff that most people laugh at as being ridiculous. But I was fascinated. I read all the cases I could get my hands on, hundreds of them. I read everything I could about paranormal phenomenon, about the occult and..." he said enthusiastic before turning his gaze down towards the table again.

"What?" she encouraged him, letting her thumb caress his hand.

"I'm telling you this, Scully, because I want to be honest with you. In my research, I've worked very closely with a man named Dr. Heitz Werber and he's taken me through deep regression hypnosis. I've been able to go into my own repressed memories to the night my sister disappeared. I can recall a bright light outside and a presence in the room. I was paralyzed, unable to respond to my sister's calls for help."

Scully gulped at his words. Not because she didn't believe him. But because what he said truly scared her. She couldn't imagine going through that, having such tormenting memories, whether they were true or not, she knew they were true to Mulder.

"You think I am crazy", he concluded letting go of her hand.

"No, Mulder", she reassured him. "I don't, I promise."

"So you believe in the existence of extraterrestrials?" he demanded to know.

"Well, logically, I would have to say no", she said honestly.

He nodded, having expected as much.

"Given the distances needed to travel from the far reaches of space, the energy requirements would exceed a spacecraft's capabilities…" Scully began to rant.

"Conventional wisdom", he cut her off. "Ergo, you don't believe me."

"But I do, Mulder", she said, taking his hand again.

"I don't understand", he said frowning. "How…?"

"I might not share your believes, but that doesn't mean that's not how you remember what happened that night with your sister. I believe that you truly believe what you said, Mulder. And I don't see how that makes it any less horrific for you. I have a sister myself. I don't know what I would have done if I lost her…" she told him.

"Thank you, Scully", he said. "For everything."

"You shouldn't thank me, Mulder. I should thank you. What you're doing for Aidan, you're amazing with him. Ever since his father passed away, I… I have feared he wouldn't have any males to look up to. I have family but… it's just not the same. Now, I am not saying I expect you to be his father or anything. I just think every boy should have someone to talk to about special stuff, you know?"

"I know what you mean. After my parents' divorce I often missed having a guy to look up to. It's not that my mom wasn't doing a great job, it's just… hard to explain."

"I know what you mean, Mulder. I hope you'll be there for Aidan, in the way your own father wasn't there for you."

"I want to, Scully. I promise you, I'll do my best for him. Be the best mentor possible. He deserves it."

"He does", she agreed, beaming at Mulder. It felt so nice to be understood, truly understood.

"By the way, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, of course", she agreed, taking another sip of her coffee.

"Aidan; it's not a very usual name. Don't get me wrong, I really like it, it fits him, I just meant to ask you; how did you come up with it?" Mulder asked her smiling.

"Well… Before his birth I had looked through billions of books with names. Every time I read a book, or watched the TV, I would look for the perfect name for my baby. But it was like none of the names meant anything to me. They didn't tell me anything about my child. When I gave birth to him, two weeks after my due date, I still hadn't found a name. But my little baby…" she smiled at the memory. "He screamed from the second he was born. He didn't cry like normal babies, he screamed. As they cut the umbilical cord, as they cleaned him, right up until the moment they brought him to me. As I took him in my arms he just stopped screaming. He had the reddest, curly hair", she said in awe remembering. "And as I looked at him I knew he was Aidan. I had remembered that name for some reason. It's Irish, it means little fire."

"That's beautiful, Scully", Mulder smiled, feeling somewhat moved by her love to her son.

Scully tried to suppress a yawn but it didn't manage to escape Mulder's detective eyes.

"It's late. I should probably head off", he said getting up from his chair, finishing the rest of his coffee in one gulp.

"It was nice meeting you, Mulder. I hope to see you again soon", she told him as she walked him out.

"Well… I was thinking since it's Sunday tomorrow, and I have nothing to do. Do you think it would be alright if I took Aidan to the aquarium? You could come as well", he smiled at her.

"Yes. That sounds nice, Mulder", she returned his smile. "I am so happy to have met you", she let him know and gave him a hug.

"What can I say?" he grinned as she let go of him again. "Your kid made my heart melt like butter."

"Who would have known?" she kidded. "The G-man has a soft spot", she giggled.

"Please don't tell that to anyone, Scully", he pleaded with her, making her giggle even more.

"Goodnight, Mulder", she told him giggling. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yep, see you tomorrow", he said smiling and backed out the door.

On his way home he couldn't stop thinking about Scully's words. The G-man has a soft spot, he chuckled to himself remembering. Aidan wasn't his only soft spot though; it seemed as if a certain Dr. Scully had worked her magic on him as well as her kid.