Title: Brother-In-Law Author: Miranda Rating: G Category: VHR, post episode (The Truth) Summary: Mulder and Scully make a stop to see Bill, Tara and Matthew. Disclaimer: Characters are Chris Carter's, and I'd much rather HE do something with them! Whatever does she see in him? My mind has been replaying the same question over and over again this entire evening. On my couch, in my living room, my little sister sits nestled against one Fox Mulder. And as far as I can see, he's as pathetic a loser as ever. I know I wasn't the kind of big brother that took care of my little sisters - I did more teasing and torturing then protecting- but ever since Dana became the partner of this Mulder guy I have felt the protectiveness I never noticed before. All the crap he's put her through, everything that our family has lost because of his insane search for some unseen truth- every time I lay eyes on the guy I am more tempted to rip his liver out. Judging from the sickeningly sweet gaze in my sis's eyes, I don't think she'd approve. Tara, my wife, on the other hand, is eating this up. I don't know how many times she has reprimanded me, saying that Mulder has been what has kept Dana alive all these years, the reason that her cheeks are flushed with life and health after so many things that could have destroyed her. Call me presumptuous, but I was sort of holding that honor for our family. Nevertheless I've learned to keep such opinions to myself. A happy wife is better than winning an argument. "It's just so wonderful to see you both together again." Tara sighs with happiness, hugging our five year old son tightly. He grimaces and pulls away, and everyone shares a laugh. "Hopefully my next baby will be a bit more cuddly." Tara teases as she puts a hand on her swollen stomach. I watch Dana's eyes moisten. "William was a cuddly baby. At night when I would rock him to sleep, he used to bury his head in my chest and wrap his little arms around me, squeezing me with all he had in him. Then he would look at me and giggle." Her voice sounds far off as she remembers her son. "Do you know where little Will is?" I ask curiously, trying to be delicate about the matter. I am safe, for it seems to help Dana to talk of it. "No." She shakes her head. "I have never missed anyone as much as I miss my little boy." She admits. I cringe as Mulder's arm tightens around her. What right does he have? I let my anger get the best of me for the moment. "So where were you when my sister was making the decision to give your son up for adoption?" I stare at him accusingly. I feel the hot glare of my wife, and the disappointment in my sister's tone as she says my name softly. Mulder looks me straight in the eye. "I was trying to protect both of them by keeping my distance." "You were trying to protect yourself." I shoot back at him immediately. He has no answer, and I see his arm fall away from Dana's shoulders. I feel a strange triumph. "Bill, cut it out!" Tara and Dana say at the same time. I sigh, continuing my stare-down of Mulder, though I remain silent. Mulder is not about to let the women speak for him. He stands up and comes closer to me. "Bill, I understand that you blame me for everything bad that has happened to your family. And some of that blame I deserve. But you knocking me down isn't going to help anything. I'm here to stay. I'm going to be with your sister for the rest of our lives, so you might want to get over your anger and accept me the way I am." While his speech has done nothing but infuriate me, it has just about caused the women to swoon. "Oh, Dana, I've never heard anything so incredibly sweet!" Tara sqeals. Dana simply beams. Suddenly a thought hits my wife that I will spend the rest of my life trying to forget. "Did you two get married?" She asks, reaching for Dana's hand to inspect for a ring. Dana pulls her hand away, embarrassed. "No, Tara..." She shrugs, trying to spare Mulder of the humiliation. Again I feel the sweet pang of victory. "So you haven't even made an honest woman out of her, Fox?" I spit his name out with disgust. "Let's have the truth, Mulder. When are you going to leave this time?" "Bill, I don't know what you are talking about." He sighs, his patience with me wearing thin. "You don't want to marry her, that speaks volumes about what you're planning to do. You'll run off as soon as you start to feel the tethers of commitment closing in on you." "I will not!" He protests. Tara, not one for shouting matches, does what she can to dispel the argument. "I'm sure that was not Mulder's intention, Bill. You know, we've got a really nice priest who I'm sure would be happy to perform a simple ceremony for you two. We could go down to the church today." She smiles cheerfully, as I roll my eyes. Dana stares uncomfortably at the floor for a split second before Mulder takes charge. "Tara, I think that's a great idea, as long as Scully does too." He takes her chin in his hand and places a light kiss on her lips. She smiles in relief. "Are you sure, Mulder?" She asks quietly. He chuckles. "I was sure a long time ago. We're way past this point, Scully. Might as well make it official." So head to the church we did that afternoon, and Dana Katherine Scully became Mrs. Fox Mulder. He did have a point. She'd been Mrs. Fox Mulder for quite some time previously. But I couldn't help but wonder as I watched the most detestable man I've ever met take my baby sister as his lawfully wedded wife that he just might be doing the whole thing out of nothing but plain and simple antagonism of his brand-new brother-in-law. The End