Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 15:58:21 -0500
From: macspooky@erols.com
Subject: Generations


I want to thank Mac for letting me come and play in her universe yet
again.  I would also like to thank her for writing a couple of the
scenes in this story.  When my brain wouldn't see them hers did and I
think it's a stronger story because of it.  This is a follow up to my
Generations: Nothing But Trouble story.  It's much more serious, lots
of angst and lots of bonding but those of you who know me know that I
just can't pass up a good comedy bit so there is a little of that,
too.  ;-) If you don't laugh at least once in the story I'll be
crushed.  I guess I should mention that this is a romance but by now
anyone who's reading the Generations series should be able to figure
out that Mulder and Scully are together.  So are Meg and Walter and
it's more their romance than Fox and Dana's.  Again feedback is always
appreciated along with suggestions for other possible stories.  By the
way this is the second story in what has become a trilogy.  The last
story is now in Mac's hands and we have to rework it a little to fit
in with some that she is doing.  Once the flood gates open there
should be quite a tidy number of Generations sagas coming your way.

This one is rated R, for "that" word and one breast kiss. :-) Very
tame.  One or two minor third season spoilers.  But quite frankly if
you've been reading much on the newgroup they should come as no
surprise. (1/9/96)

E-mail me at 72620.3447@compuserve.com 
Eowyn

Disclaimer stuff.  I don't own Mulder, Scully, Skinner or Meg.  I'm
just borrowing them to play.  Chris Carter is the person who I
borrowed them from and I promise to give them back when I'm done.  The
other characters you find in this story don't belong to me either.
They belong to Macspooky and her most excellent Generation series and
are used with her full permission.  This is not part of my Fusion
series.  Please feel free to circulate this or any of my other stories
around with only two conditions.  One: keep my name and address
attached and two: if you want to put it in a zine or something like
that let me know because I want a copy.  Deal.  On with the show...

Generations: Baby Trouble
By Eowyn Evenstar

     The headlights fractured and sparkled through her tears making it
hard for the woman driving to see.  She contemplated pulling over
until she stopped crying but was afraid that her husband would worry
if she showed up much later.  Already running late, the last thing she
needed was for him to call and a fight to start with her new
step-father.  There had already been enough angry words for one night.
She wiped at the tears running down her face.  <Damn these raging
hormones anyway.> Being bawled out for taking advantage of her mother
would have been upsetting enough before but she could have controlled
her reaction.  The hormonal imbalance caused by her recent pregnancy
had lessened that control considerably.  Even before tonight it had
been hard for her to control her tears, now she couldn't stop crying
and she knew she had to.  If she showed up like this Fox would go over
to her mom's and take Skinner's head off.  <Just when they were
actually starting to get along, too.>
     She'd like to take Skinner's head off as well.  Bastard.  What
right did he have to accuse her of taking advantage of her mom.  Her
mom didn't mind watching Thing.  She knew that her mom wouldn't want
to do it for long periods of time or on a regular basis but it had
been a crisis.  The X-file team had been called out of town on an
emergency consult and had only a couple of hours to put things in
order for a trip.  Normally Mrs. Anderson, her neighbor, would have
happily watched the dog for the two days and nights they had been gone
but while she could still take Krycek she had agreed to babysit a
friend's cat and Thing and cats just didn't get along.  With Melissa's
pregnancy having caused allergies to flair up she couldn't watch him
and the late hour at which they had been called had meant all the
kennels were closed or full, it being July and the height of vacation
season.  Her mom had been her last hope and had said that she didn't
mind.
     True, mom had seemed a bit distracted when she and Fox had
dropped Thing off on their way to the airport to catch a red eye
flight out west but she had assured them that it was fine.  It had
been late but there had been no sign of Skinner then and she and Fox
hadn't bothered to ask.  Although, come to think of it, nine thirty at
night was kind of late for a newlywed to be working.  The trip had
been long and exhausting but successful.  She and Mulder had been able
to spot a couple of clues that the local bureau agents had missed and
they now had a suspect in hand and the start of a good case with which
to prosecute him.  They flew back to DC, late again, and she dropped
Mulder off at the office to turn in the report and pick up his car,
he'd left it at the Bureau, while she went by Skinner's co-op to pick
up the damn dog.  She really didn't want to mess with it this late but
hadn't wanted to bother her mom with it any longer than necessary.
Her mom had known what time she was due in and had told her to come on
by that ten thirty wasn't too late.  But instead of her mom answering
the door it had been Skinner and he had started in on her before she
had said a word.
     "Meg isn't feeling well and is in bed.  You shouldn't have dumped
the dog off on her with her being sick.  You kids take way too much
advantage of your mother and that's going to stop..."  And on and on
and on Skinner had gone.  Thing had finally come running up and Dana
had just picked him up, turned and left fighting to keep the tears
from falling.  She wouldn't cry in front of her boss.  She wouldn't.
She had made it to the car with only a few tears falling but as she
started the engine the dam had burst and she had cried and cried.  She
felt like she had just lost her mom.  Who was that horrible man she
had married?  Dana had thought she knew him but suddenly Skinner had
become a monster who didn't want Meg's kids around.  <I almost wish
I'd shot him in Fox's apartment now.> She pulled up in front of her
apartment building and parked, the tears still falling, planning to
wait until they stopped before going in.
     Unfortunately for her Mulder had run later at the office than
planned and arrived just after she did.  He walked up to the car and
opened the door to find her crying.
     "Dana honey, what's wrong."  He asked bending down and cupping
her cheek in his hand.  She had been crying a lot more than usual, at
the drop of a hat really, but he could tell this was different.  Those
had been a few tears at a sad show or an upsetting article in the
paper but this was far more than that.  <It's not just pregnancy
hormones behind this.>
     "It's nothing, Fox.  I'd rather not talk about it."
     He sighed.  <And she complains that I hold things in and don't
talk.> "Come on let's go on in.  I'll come back for the luggage.  Over
here you stupid dog, you might as well go to the bathroom now while
you're out."  Mulder was not very fond of the dog.  It had bitten him
on the butt one night while he was making love to Dana.  <Talk about
your mood killer.  Sheesh!> He tolerated him for his wife's sake but
he sure as hell hoped that Melissa's allergies would go away once the
baby was born and that she and Chuck would take the dog back.  The
trip out of town had been nice.  He had been able to concentrate on
making love to his wife without keeping one eye peeled for the dog to
attack or at the very least, the damn mutt scratching and whining
outside the bedroom door.  He smiled to himself, the last two nights
had been very pleasurable.
     At his words to Thing Dana started to cry even harder.  <Damn,
what the hell is wrong.> Fox thought to himself.  "Come on, love, in
we go.  You are going to go in and get ready for bed while I take care
of things out here and then we are going to talk.  And _nothing_ is
not going to serve."  He helped her out of the car and took Thing's
leash from her.  They waited while he did the necessities and then Fox
guided her into their apartment with his arm around her shoulder.  The
tears were flowing slower but still hadn't stopped.
     Fox guided her to the easy chair to sit down, then went into the
bathroom and started a bath for her.  "Come on, you're going to take a
nice hot bath and wash off all the grit and grime of our trip."  He
pulled her up from the chair, took her to the bathroom and gently
helped her undress, showering delicate kisses on her face and neck as
he did so.  He picked her up and put her into the tub and with a final
kiss left the room.  Shortly he returned with a bottle of pink
lemonade from the refrigerator and some oatmeal cookies.  "Relax and
take it easy, sweetheart, I'll be back to get you in a little while."
     Dana sighed.  The tears had finally stopped falling.  How could
she be sad when she had the most wonderful husband in the world.
Mulder had always been protective and caring for her even at the
beginning of their relationship.  Once their love had been admitted
and the walls had dropped he had become extremely so.  Sometimes it
irritated her but tonight the love and pampering was exactly what she
needed.  She sighed again, grabbed a chocolate chip cookie and leaned
back to let the water relax her muscles.  <I'll worry about Skinner
later.  By the time I tell Fox what happened it'll be too late for him
to go tearing over there tonight.  Maybe by in the morning I'll have
thought of something or he will have cooled down.  Fat chance.>

     Fox Mulder stood restlessly at the door to Skinner's apartment.
<Keep cool... deep breaths... I promised Dana not to hit the
man... I'm not going to hit him... I'm not going to hit him... I'm not
going to hit him... I'm going to punch the f**kin' bastard through the
wall.  Shit.  I'm going to be cool... I'm going to be calm... I'm
going to...  The door slowly opened to reveal Margaret Skinner.
     One look at her and Fox forgot all about Walter Skinner.  "Mom,
what's wrong.  You look awful."
     Margaret tried to get a joke out about how that was a great thing
to say but the words wouldn't come.  She gagged and ran to the
bathroom.  Mulder followed her.  After she had finished throwing up he
handed her a damp wash cloth and a glass of ice water.  There had been
no sign of Skinner.  He couldn't believe the bastard had gone and left
her like this.
     "Mom, do you have the flu?  Where's Skinner?"
     "He left for work an hour ago."
     "He left at five thirty in the morning?  Why in god's
name... Couldn't he wait till one of the kids could come over and take
care of you?"  What the hell had gotten into the man.  As far as
Mulder knew there was nothing going on at work to warrant this
behavior.  "Is there a problem at work?"
     Meg began to cry.  Fox helped her off the floor and took her into
his arms.  "Shh, Mom, don't cry... it'll be okay... I know the flu
makes you feel awful but it'll only last a few days."
     He heard Meg chuckle.  "This flu may last another thirty-five
weeks, Fox.  Walt can't very well stay home with me for the whole
time."  He pulled back and lifted her chin to look her in the face.
She couldn't mean what he thought she meant.
     One look at her son's face and she stopped crying and started
laughing.  Just a chuckle but it warmed him nonetheless.  "I mean
exactly what you think I do, Fox.  I'm pregnant."
     Mulder felt like he'd been kicked in the gut.  He drew in a sharp
breath.  "How?"
     "The usual way, dear."
     "No, I mean... I thought... aren't you... didn't you...?" <Shit.>
     "That's what I thought.  But apparently I wasn't quite finished
with the change.  I'd had a few irregular periods over the last few
years but nothing for a few months.  My doctor thinks that I must have
had one last random ovulation.  I'm five weeks pregnant."
     Scared.  He was really scared.  Mom was too old for this.  She
looked horrible and she had months and months to go.  They might lose
her.  He didn't want to lose the only real mother he'd ever known.
He'd only had her for such a short time.  It wasn't fair it wasn't
long enough, it would break Dana's heart if her mother died.  <How the
hell could that bastard do this to her.> That pulled him up
short... that wasn't fair... they all thought that Meg was through
menopause.  This wasn't Skinner's fault.  Still why wasn't he here?
There was no reason to go into work this early.  Unless...  "Are you
and Skinner having problems?"
     Margaret started to cry again. <Shit, Mulder, when are you going
to learn to keep your mouth closed.  "That's okay, Mom, it's none of
my business."
     "No, Fox.  If you're willing to listen I'd really like to talk
about it.  Walter and I can't seem to communicate.  We've been
fighting ever since I told him.  He's even moved into the spare
bedroom."  Margaret Scully knew that she shouldn't really be talking
to Fox Mulder, one of Walter's agents, especially this agent, about
this.  It could create such a strain in their relationship that they
wouldn't be able to work together.  In fact, she knew that if they
both lost their perspective that it would blow up all over the Bureau
and create the most god awful mess.  But she desperately needed
someone to talk to, someone who knew Walter well.  Dana might have
worked but somehow she didn't think that her daughter would be able to
get through to Walter or to remain impartial.  Actually, Dana would
probably be so mad at him and busy defending her that they would end
up shouting at each other and nothing would be accomplished.  None of
her other children knew him well enough.  They wouldn't be able to see
both sides and he definitely wouldn't open up to them.
     Fox was her best hope.  Things had only gone from bad to worse
since last Sunday night when she had broken the news to her new
husband.  Maybe her timing hadn't been the best.  He'd just spent the
day babysitting four grandbabies with Fox but she hadn't wanted to put
it off any longer.  Now it was Friday morning and they had barely
talked since Wednesday.  She was sick and miserable and hadn't gotten
a decent night's sleep since her family doctor had told her she was
pregnant a week ago.  God she couldn't believe it when she heard.
She'd gone in because she'd been feeling really tired and sick for
weeks.  She thought it might be a flu bug that wouldn't quit or maybe
her anemia acting up again, but pregnant.  <I can't believe I'm
pregnant!> This afternoon she had to go to the ObGyn for her first
appointment.  She dreaded going alone but Walter had said he was too
busy.  It was a lie but what could she do?  Maybe he would listen to
Fox and talk to him.
     Margaret had suspected from almost their first date that Skinner
liked Mulder a lot more than he would admit, even to himself.  She had
watched them together and as their relationship grew she became
convinced that the feelings were mutual.  By now she was sure that her
husband loved Fox like a son and she suspected, although she couldn't
be sure, her son-in-law was better at hiding his feelings than Walter,
that Fox had come to think of Walter as a father.  Heaven knew, from
the little that Dana had let slip, that Fox had never had much of
father figure in his own.
     Mulder's voice interrupted her thoughts, "I've got all the time
in the world to listen.  Come on in the bedroom.  I want you to lie
down and put your feet up.  Do you think you can eat anything?"  At
her nod he said, "How about I make you some toast with jelly."  She
seemed so weak on her way to the bedroom that Fox finally bent over
and picked her up carrying her into the master suite and laying her on
the bed.  He helped her remove her robe and pulled the sheet up over
her.  "I'll be right back with some food.  How 'bout some milk?  Do
you think you could keep it down?  Good."
     He returned a few minutes later with a tray.  He had made toast
with strawberry jam, <How did he remember that was my favorite.>
Margaret smiled to herself.  Fox was so sweet to notice and remember.
<Dana is a lucky woman.> The tray also held a large glass of milk and
a medium sized glass of orange juice.
     "You need to drink all of this, Mom, you can't afford to get
dehydrated.  Why don't you let me call Maureen or one of the others to
come and take care of you."
     "No, Fox.  I've been all over this with Walter, I'm not going to
ask my children and their spouses to spend the next eight months
taking care of me.  They all have either jobs or children and don't
have the time."
     Biting his tongue to keep from arguing he thought it best not to
tell her he sided with Skinner on this one.  No way was she going to
talk if he set her off by agreeing with her husband.
     As she ate he entertained her with stories of Krychek and Thing.
They had become fast friends over the last couple of weeks and from
what Mrs.  Anderson had reported Krychek had pined for something and
wouldn't eat while they were away.  Since they had been away many
times before and the bird hadn't given a damn, Mulder figured that it
was the dog that he missed.  This had been reinforced by the way they
cuddled up together when he had brought the bird in last night.  Thing
had spent the night in the easy chair with Krychek on his back.
Mulder hadn't meant to leave the bird out but he had been so concerned
with Dana and what she had told him that he had forgotten to put him
in the cage.  Fortunately the bird and dog had been so happy to be
reunited that neither had moved until he had gotten up early that
morning.  He had headed over here to have it out with Skinner before
he left for work about what he had said to Scully the night before.
     Well the edge was off his anger but he was becoming doubly mad at
his boss for his treatment of Dana's mom.  <What the hell has gotten
into him.> As Margaret finished her breakfast Fox said, "Okay, Mom,
why don't you tell me what's happening and if there is anything I can
do?"
     As Margaret Scully Skinner began to talk Fox Mulder used every
skill he had learned in his PhD training to listen dispassionately to
what she was saying.  Skinner wanted her to get an abortion.  Margaret
had flat out refused.  She knew it was inconvenient to have a baby.
They were both way too old.  It was the time when they should be
settling back and enjoying their grandchildren and the freedom of
having all the kids gone.  Instead, if she managed to carry this baby
to term they would be saddled with diapers and playpens.  What would
his colleagues think... her friends... her children.  It was so
embarrassing.  Who would take care of the baby if anything happened to
them?  Walter would be almost to retirement age when it was time for
this child to enter college.  They would have to change their
lifestyle.  Babies were so disruptive.  Her house was pretty well baby
proof but his apartment was a disaster.  Fox should know.  Look at
what they'd gone through last weekend.  Did Walter think that she
didn't know all these things, didn't understand why he didn't want
this child.  But she couldn't... she just couldn't have an abortion.
It was against everything that she believed in.  Oh why had this had
to happen now?  Margaret began to cry again.
     Fox got up from the chair he was sitting in and sat down by her
on the bed taking her into his arms and rocking her gently back and
forth.  Something wasn't adding up.  He could tell that Margaret
didn't want this baby.  Hell, she had five children already, been
pregnant somewhere between eight or nine times, if he remembered
correctly what she had said last Christmas about miscarriages and was
just starting a life with a new husband.  But Skinner... her
description of why he was pushing her for an abortion just didn't add
up.  Yeah the kids had driven him... them crazy last weekend but not
once had he lost his temper...  never raised his hand to spank one of
them... or raised his voice in an angry way.  He was going to have to
talk to Skinner.  Talking wasn't the problem...  getting him to open
up and discuss what he was feeling was going to be.  The AD wasn't one
to analyze his emotions too closely much less be willing to talk about
them with one of his agents.  <Especially me.> Thought Mulder.
     The clock read eight fifteen.  Dana might have left for work but
he was betting that she was waiting on a call from him to see if he
had punched their boss out.  "Mom, I'm going to call Dana to come over
and stay with you."
     "No, Fox, I'll be fine on my own.  I'm not going to take Dana
away from work."  Margaret sounded very firm.
     <Guess I know where Dana gets her independent stubborn streak.>
Mulder continued as if his mother-in-law hadn't said anything.
"She'll stay with you this morning.  We don't have anything scheduled
except a meeting with our boss at ten.  I don't want to miss that
meeting.  I think I need to talk with him but I'll do better without
Scully along.  So why don't you keep her occupied for me?"
     Margaret was well aware what her charming son-in-law was doing to
get her to have somebody with her but she was also well aware that he
was right.  If Walter was going to talk it wouldn't be with Dana
there.  "Alright, go ahead and call Dana but only for this morning."
     Fox kissed her forehead before releasing her and standing up.
"That's the way to go, Mom.  And we'll worry about this afternoon when
we get to it."  He winked at her as he picked up the phone to call his
wife.

     Assistant Director Walter Skinner was trying to maintain his
concentration on the report Fox Mulder was giving him.  He was finding
it difficult.  Mulder had shown up at ten sharp and started
immediately.  No explanation had been given as to Agent Scully's
whereabouts.  Skinner was not happy.  He had hoped to pull her aside
at the end of their meeting and apologize for being such an ass the
night before.  He'd made her cry.  <What a jerk I was.  It takes some
major shit to make a woman as strong as Scully cry and I'm a major
shit.> It was obvious that she hadn't told Mulder about what a jackass
he'd been.  The AD knew that if she had he'd be sporting either a
black eye or a busted jaw from the punch Mulder would have given him.
Skinner almost wished that she had told Fox.  He knew that he'd
deserved to be knocked on his ass for what he'd said.  Maybe it would
make him feel better.  Nothing else had the last few days.  <God what
a nightmare.> Where the hell was Scully he wanted to apologize and get
it over with.  <Shit.>
     Skinner suddenly became aware that Mulder was staring at him
waiting for him to speak.  Had he finished his report?  The AD had
absolutely no idea what had been said over the last five minutes.
Better go on the offensive.  "Agent Mulder, I thought that Agent
Scully was supposed to be joining us for this meeting?"
     "She had a family crisis, sir."  That brought Skinner's eyes up
from his desk where they had been looking.  <Tread carefully, Walter.>
He thought to himself as his eyes met Mulder's.
     "Oh, I see."
     "Do you?"  Mulder was being very cagey.  He had to keep Walter
off balance if he was going to get him to talk.  <Damn the man looked
like hell.  If Margaret hasn't had much sleep over the last several
days, Skinner looks as if he hasn't had any.> He watched his boss'
eyes turn icy and sensed his withdrawal into himself.  <Blast it,
Walter, you're not going to make this easy, are you?  So much for the
gentle approach, guess I'm going to have to go for the jugular.>
     <Mind your own damn business, Mulder, and stay out of mine.>
Walter held his tongue but not his thoughts.  He was determined not to
talk to Fox Mulder about this.
     "I hear congratulations are in order.  How do you feel about
that?"  Fox probed.
     "Meg and I are discussing the situation.  I feel just fine."
<That's a hands off signal, Mulder.  Keep it up and I won't be so
polite the next time.>
     "Really?  You're okay with this?"  Skinner shot him a look that
would have sent any other agent in the Bureau running for cover.  The
AD was about to blow.  "I guess you're taking this better than me,"
Mulder pressed.
     Skinner looked Mulder straight in the eye.  His face held a
question as to what his agent meant.  "I don't quite see your point?"
     "It's just that when Mom told me that she was pregnant this
morning I was scared shitless.  Felt like someone had kicked me in the
gut.  I've only had her as a mother a short time and I don't want to
lose her. Suddenly I realized that that might be a real possibility.
It made me pretty sick to my stomach and I'm not even married to her."
     The AD suddenly felt sympathy for any murderer Fox Mulder
interrogated.  His son-in- law had cut right to the heart of the
matter and Walter's greatest fear, he had carefully been avoiding
facing it over the last week.  He paled and suddenly felt weak.  Now
was not the time to remember that the last time he had eaten was lunch
yesterday and that that hadn't been very much.
     <Shit, Skinner's going to faint.> Fox quickly crossed the room
and put his arm around his boss' shoulders.  "Come on and sit down
before you fall down.  When was the last time you ate?"
     "I don't need any help and I'm not hungry."  Skinner said pushing
at Mulder's arm trying to break free.
     <Jackass.> Mulder thought to himself.  He let Skinner go and
watched him sink to the floor.  <Satisfied?> "Happy now, Wally?  Do
you want to stay there or would you like some help over to the couch?
Or do you plan to crawl over on all fours?"
     Walter Skinner was not a happy man.  He wanted to get up and walk
over and sit down but his body was not in the mood to obey.  <Man can
not live on coffee alone.> He thought to himself.
     Realizing that his boss was not going to swallow his pride and
ask for help Fox went over and lifted him up, none to gently, by the
arm pits.  The fast rise caused Skinner's head to spin even more and
he staggered back against Mulder.
     "Damn it, Mulder, that's no help."
     "No shit, Sherlock.  You didn't ask for any, remember.  I just
sort of assumed that you weren't trying out for bear skin rug and that
you might want to try the couch."
     <As soon as he comes into focus I am going to hit him.> Skinner
thought to himself.
     Smirking at his boss as he swayed against him Fox added, "Are we
dancing?  If so I get to lead."
     <That does it.> Skinner pulled back and took a swing at Mulder.
Not a bright move.  Mulder dodged easily and the AD's sudden movement
made him dizzier still.  The momentum in his arm threw him further off
balance and spun him around.  He would have ended up as a heap on the
floor again had Mulder not grabbed him from behind.
     "This is getting old, Wally.  You going to sit down or should I
just let you hit the floor again?"  The AD decided that he had
suffered enough humiliation, shut up and let Mulder guide him to the
couch.
     Deciding that his boss could use some nourishment he went over
and opened the office door, pulled out a ten dollar bill and handed it
to Angela.  "Would you please go get the AD something to eat?  I know
it's a lot to ask but he forgot to eat.  No coffee though, maybe
orange juice or milk."
     "I've been trying to get him to eat all week.  If you can get him
to I'll be happy to go and pick something up.  I've been wondering
what's wrong?"  Angela's voice held just enough of a question.
     Discretion was one of Angela's strong points and Fox figured he
owed her one so he decided to clue her in.  "It seems that he may
become a new father in about eight months and he is having trouble
adjusting to the fact."
     "I see," was all that she replied but from the look of compassion
on her face Mulder realized that she really did understand.  Well she
would be better able to watch over Skinner than he could and Fox had a
feeling that the AD was going to need the support over the next few
months.
     "Finished telling the world about my business, Mulder?"
     He wasn't about to be intimidated by Skinner now.  "Not the
world, only Angela and she knows how to keep her mouth shut."
     Skinner bit his lip and glared at Mulder.  Mulder didn't give an
inch.  Walter gave up.  "You can be one brutal bastard.  You know
that, Fox?"
     "Only when I run into a hard headed son of a bitch like you.  Did
you hear any of my report?"
     "Not much.  I take it Scully told you about last night?"
     "Yeah.  I went over to your place to clean your clock and ran
into mom.  How the hell could you leave her like that?"
     "You think I wanted to?  She wouldn't let me call any of the kids
and she won't listen to a word I have to say.  Hell, she hasn't even
let me sleep with her since Wednesday."
     "Does she know how you feel?"
     "How the hell can she know how I feel when I'm not even sure how
I feel?  I'm so terrified of losing her that I can't seem to think
beyond that.  Tell Scully that I'm really sorry about yelling at her
last night.  I hadn't meant to, I just wanted to tell her that Meg
wasn't going to be able to keep the dog anymore for awhile and all my
frustrations from the last week came pouring out.  I must have really
been a bastard.  I know I made her cry.  I didn't think anything short
of a major disaster could do that."
     "Don't beat yourself up about it, Walter.  It's a little easier
to make her cry right now."
     Skinner looked up puzzled and Mulder realized that he was going
to have to explain.  "It's a hormonal thing."
     The first smile that Fox had seen that day spread across Walter's
face.  "Are congratulations in order?"
     "It looks like it.  We'll know for sure in another week but the
at home test was positive."
     "That's really wonderful news, great news."
     "Thanks, but now that you know... you make her cry again and I
will come and punch you out."
     Skinner nodded.  Funny he didn't blame Mulder a bit.
     Fox joined him on the couch.  "You know Meg doesn't want this
baby, don't you?"
     Skinner nodded.  "She has five kids already and she is well aware
of how hard this pregnancy is going to be on her body yet she refuses
to even consider an abortion."
     "You knew that she was a devout Catholic when you married her."
     "Yes, but I never thought it would come down to her risking her
life to bring an unwanted child into this world."
     "Is it really unwanted?"  At that Walter looked up from the floor
he had been contemplating puzzled by Fox's question.  "Walter, I'm
going to give you two choices for your life a year from now.  You tell
me which one you would choose.  Okay?"
     Skinner nodded.  "Okay choice one.  You and Margaret are happily
living in your apartment.  You go to the movies, theater and concerts
whenever you want.  You visit with the grandkids occasionally and
vacation in exotic locals.  You have no children.  Now choice two.
The house is a mess.  You can't go anywhere without a major
production, car seats, diaper bags, play pen, well you know all the
crap.  You have one or two middle of the night feedings, never seem to
get enough sleep, are always covered in drool or something worse, and
never have enough time to be together but Mom's healthy and you have a
baby.  Which would you choose?
     Walter drew in a deep breath and stood up slowly, the dizziness
seemed to have passed, so he went to stand and look out the window.
Fox joined him and put a hand on his shoulder.  "You didn't answer my
question."
     "I'd give anything but Meg to have that baby."  His father's
voice was quiet and tight.
     "Tell her that.  She needs a reason to want this baby.  She can't
have an abortion.  You know that.  If she did have one it would kill a
part of her, she wouldn't be mom anymore.  If she knows that you
really want this baby it'll help her through, it'll give her a reason
to go on and she desperately needs that reason.  The morning sickness
was pretty bad today."
     Walter turned his head to look at Mulder.  "It's been like that
since Tuesday and it lasts all day, not just in the morning.  It's
tearing me apart to see her like this."  Skinner turned to look back
out the window and think about what Fox had said.
     Angela knocked on the door and brought in a ham and cheese
sandwich and apple juice.  Fox took them from her and thanked her.
"Cancel the rest of Skinner's appointments for today.  Is there
anything he needs to take care of before he leaves?"
     "I don't think so, Agent Mulder, but let me double check."
     Mulder gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.  "Thanks, Angela, you
really are an angel."
     Angela blushed and went back into her office.
     Skinner shook his head at Mulder's back.  His grandmotherly
assistant was smitten.  <He has her wrapped around his little finger.
What is it with Mulder and women, anyway?> Then after some more
thought, <And why am I letting him boss me around?>
     "I'll drive you home."  Fox informed Walter.
     "There is absolutely no need to do that.  I'm quite capable of
driving myself home and who said I would take the rest of the day off
anyway?"
     "Mom has her first appointment with the ObGyn today at three.
Dana can go but it should be you but you've got to straighten out this
mess first.  You two have to talk and really listen to each other."
     Skinner thought about telling Fox that he had interfered enough
but one look at his son's face and he knew he was right.  He also knew
just how determined he could be and he wasn't going to let Walter put
this off.  <I don't have the energy to fight him.> "Okay, I'll go home
but I can drive myself."
     He looked stubbornly at Mulder and saw his grin.  "What?"  <Just
what the hell does he find so funny?> The AD thought to himself as he
sat down to eat.  He was suddenly very hungry.
     "We'll ignore the fact that you almost passed out a few minutes
ago, the food should help with that.  I thought you wanted to talk to
Mom?"
     "I do but I don't need you there."  Skinner already felt enough
of an ass, he didn't want Mulder, of all people, refereeing between
him and Meg.  Fox had helped enough by getting him to face his
feelings about the situation.  <I don't need a GD mother hen.>
     "Walt, I'm not about to get between you and Mom but you'll never
make it through Dana without me.  She's still pissed as hell with you
about last night and with the condition Mom was in when I left if you
tried to get past her to her mom... Well let's just say that her
target would be a lot lower than your shoulder."
     Both men chuckled at that.  "You're right about that one, Fox.
Hell, I've been wishing most of the week that Scully would have shot
me there that day in your apartment."
     "Well if you don't want her to oblige today you're going to have
to take me along."
     "You win I'll take that lift.  I'll get a cab in to work sometime
this weekend and pick up my car, I've got to work this weekend anyway.
I hate to do it but Davis left me quite a mess and this week hasn't
helped.  It's been bloody hard to concentrate."
     "No need.  I'll pick Dana up and then we can drop your car off by
your place tonight.  We'd both like to hear what the doctor has to
say.  If that's alright with you?  Oh and, Walt, if Davis left you a
mess be careful she's probably up to something.  As much as I dislike
her she is very efficient and that's not her style.  And she was
definitely gunning for your job."
     Skinner contemplated Mulder's words.  <He's got a point, I think
I'll spend a little extra time reviewing those files.> "Here take my
car keys so that I don't forget to give them to you.  And I think you
may be right about Davis but it'll mean leaving Meg alone a lot this
weekend and I hate to do that."
     "Dana and I will keep her occupied."
     "She's not about to let you babysit her, Fox.  I've tried all
week to get her to let me call some of the kids to help.  She
absolutely refused."
     "I think I can get her to cooperate."  Fox smiled at his
father-in-law.
     <Mulder and women... I bet he does, too.> They left to head back
to Skinner's apartment.

End Part 1.


===========================================================================


All disclaimers still apply.

"Generations: Baby Trouble"  Part 2 by Eowyn  (1/9/96)

     Skinner sat back in Mulder's car and sighed.  Lunch time traffic
was always a bitch.  "I thought you were going to get a new car,
Mulder?"
     Mulder looked chagrinned.  "Scully and I are having a bit of a
debate on the subject.  She wants a minivan or station wagon."  His
son-in-law shuddered.  "I can't see myself driving either of those.
Spooky Mulder is already feeling domesticated enough, thankyou very
much."
     Their eyes met contemplating minivans and then they shivered
together, that made them laugh.  "God, Fox, did you ever think we'd
become so... well I was going to say neutered but upon consideration I
don't think that word's very appropriate."  That started them both
laughing, again.
     "Considering my case files, ordinary isn't going to work either."
Mulder laughed.
     "Okay, so what are we?"  Skinner asked.
     "Happy."  Mulder answered.
     "Housebroken."  Skinner finished.
     Fox negotiated a rather difficult traffic circle before
continuing the conversation.  "So, Walt, what else is bothering you?"
     <Too damned perceptive.> He thought about denying it but then
shrugged.  He couldn't think of a person other than Mulder that he'd
want to talk about the subject with.  "I'm worried about who would
take care of Meg's and my kid if something happens to us.  At our age
it's a real possibility.  Hell, Fox, I'm in my late forties and in a
very stressful line of work.  I'll be damned near retirement by the
time the kid's ready for college.  My sister already has three kids
and heaven only knows how Meg's family is going to react to her being
pregnant."
     "What kind of a man do you think I am?" demanded Fox angrily ,
finally losing patience.  "Do you think I'd let the kid go into the
foster care system, or an orphanage or something worse?  I know what
those places are like. I spent a couple of weeks in one when my father
beat....."  Mulder stopped and gripped the wheel.  In his anger, he
realized, he had revealed too much, too much about things he didn't
want to discuss with the man who was still his boss.  Too much about
why Skinner shouldn't trust Spooky Mulder.
     "Look, I understand why you wouldn't want me to take care of the
kid but Dana's got three brothers and a sister.  All of them, well
maybe not Melissa, but the others are wonderful parents and not a one
would let the kid go to some foster family."
     Walter was lost in thought.  He guessed he had known about Fox or
at least suspected.  His file held enough of the details if you
bothered to look below the surface.  First his sister's disappearance,
then his own sudden transfer to the custody of an Aunt after his
mother's breakdown.  <Guess I preferred to assume that it was because
of the demands of his father's job.> It made him sick to think of
anyone hurting Fox like that, then it made him angry.  <How dare that
bastard hurt such a loving sensitive boy like that.  Bastard I'd like
ten minutes alone with him.>
     Walter was startled as Fox slammed on the brakes nearly hitting
the car in front of him.  "Sorry..." he said sheepishly.
     Neither man spoke for a moment.  Skinner gazed out the window.
<Now what had Fox been saying?> Something about not wanting him to
care for Walter's child.  <Now where in hell would he get that idea?
Of course he's the one I'd want to take care of my baby if I
couldn't.> It was at that moment that Skinner realized that that was
what he and Margaret would want, that Fox and Dana Mulder would be
wonderful parents to the baby.  Now that he had some options, he was
beginning to feel some of the weight lifting off his shoulders.  When
Annie had been ill, so much of the burden had fallen on him.  Both
their parents had been dead, and his only sister in the seminary.
Annie had no one.  Now, he was surrounded by Margaret's children and
grandchildren.  And he had Fox.  Things were very different.
     "What the hell kind of nonsense are you talking about, Mulder.
Of course you and Dana would be my first choice to raise my child.  I
just thought that with your baby on the way it might be too much of a
burden."
     "Don't be ridiculous, Walt.  It wouldn't be any harder than
having twins.  I... we wouldn't want to trust anyone else."  Fox
Mulder swallowed the lump in his throat and concentrated on driving.
<Skinner thinks I'd be a good father.> It was a comforting thought.
     A little while later Walter began to talk.  "You know what has me
worried the most, Fox?  That sometime in the next eight months there
could come a time where it's a choice of either Meg or the baby.  I
know that that isn't too likely but at her age it's more likely than
if she were younger."  Mulder nodded his understanding.  "She'll
choose the baby, Fox.  I know she will.  And it doesn't even have
anything to do with her religion, it's just her nature.  I want this
baby but not if it means losing her.  God I thought this was all over
with with Annie... the miscarriages the sickness... Do you have any
idea what it's like to watch the woman that you love fade slowly
away?"  At his son-in-law's sudden intake of breath he stopped.
"Jeez, what a self-centered bastard I'm being, of course you do.  I'm
sorry..."
     "No, it's okay, Dana came back, remember?  I do understand.  And,
Walter, I promise that if it does come to a choice between Meg and the
baby that I'll try to get her to see what her loss would do to you.  I
don't know if I can get her to listen but I will try."  Their eyes met
briefly and then quickly turned away.
     "Thanks.  It feels good to have back-up."
     "No problem.  Here we go."  Mulder pulled into Skinner's parking
space and shut the car off.  "Good luck."

     Walter Skinner slowly let himself into his apartment, Mulder
following close behind.
     Dana Mulder came out of the kitchen talking.  "Fox, did you talk
to him?  Mom's taking a shower and trying to get ready for the doctor.
She managed to eat lunch and seems to be feeling a bit better.  I
thought we'd..."  Her voice stopped when she saw her step-father with
her husband.  "Oh, it's you.  Nice of you to make it."
     Skinner had to suppress a smile.  From the look on Scully's face
only the presence of her husband was keeping her quiet.  He glanced at
Fox and saw the same sparkle of amusement in his eyes.  <Dead meat.
Definitely dead meat.>
     "Dana honey, you really don't need to stay any longer.  I'm quite
capable of getting myself to the doctor."  Margaret's voice proceeded
her into the room.  She was dressed in a large blue terry cloth
bathrobe with a towel over her hair toweling it dry.  Upon seeing her
husband she stopped.
     <She looks so pale and fragile.> Walter thought to himself.
Before he could stop himself he had crossed the room and taken her
into his arms.  One arm went around her waist to pull her to him, his
hand cupped the side of her face, fingers tangling in her long hair.
He kissed her long and lingeringly, his lips parting hers and his
tongue exploring her mouth.  As he felt her respond his body answered.
They could talk later.  "Fox, Dana, you know the way out.  We'll see
you for dinner tonight."  With those words he bent and picked Meg up
and carried her to the bedroom.  Her arms wrapped around his neck her
lips exploring his face. <Walt's right we can talk later.> Meg was so
glad to have her loving husband back and not the cold distant man that
she had been living with all week that all she wanted to do was make
love to him.  She knew that now that he was talking... <well maybe not
talking,> she thought as his lips slid down to her breast, but he
wasn't shutting her out anymore and she felt that now they could work
it out.  <Thanks, Fox.>
     "Mulder, how can you let him walk in here like that after all
that he's put mom through this last week?"
     "Sweetheart, they've both been through hell this last week but
they are going to have to work it out themselves.  We can't get in
between."
     "Seems to me you've spent all morning being in between, Fox."
     "Well then let's just say that they have to go the rest of the
way themselves."
     They heard laughter that quickly turned into a moan from the
bedroom.  Mulder blushed and so did Scully.  "Dana, I really think
it's time to leave."  She grabbed her purse and they headed out the
door and back to work before they heard anything else.

     Dana Scully Mulder sat in the car on the way back to work
stewing.  She was not happy.  The fact that her mother was pregnant
was bad enough.  How embarrassing... but her boss was the father.
Wait till this got out at the Bureau.  Actually she'd love to see the
look on the AD's face when this started circulating.  She'd heard him
called The Great Stone Face a time or two, he would really need it to
deal with the reactions he was likely to get.
     "Forgiven me yet, love?"
     "Fox, why did you leave him alone with mom?  You know he's
pressuring her to have an abortion.  He doesn't want to be bothered
with a baby."
     "I spent a long time talking to him.  One, he isn't pressuring
her to have an abortion.  He suggested it because he's scared to death
that this pregnancy could kill your mom.  Two, it's your mom that
doesn't want this baby, honey..."
     "Do you blame her?  She had six kids and two miscarriages isn't
that enough?"
     "Easy, Dana, I didn't say that it wasn't.  That's just Walter's
point."
     "It may be his point but mom could never willingly kill her
baby...  He knew she was Catholic when he married her.  Just because
it's inconvenient or embarrassing for him..."
     Fox interrupted again.  "You're making the same mistaken
assumption that your mom did, Honey."  At her questioning look he
continued.  "You're assuming that just because he's worried about your
mom's health and suggested an abortion that he doesn't want this
baby."
     "Well abortion is pretty..."
     "Dana, he told me that he'd give anything but your mom's life to
have this baby."
     A stunned look appeared on her face.  "He wants this baby?  He
isn't embarrassed or worried about the inconvenience or any of the
other things?"
     "No.  None of those things matter a damn to him.  If I've read
him right he's spent the last five days worried about losing your mom
one minute and the baby the next.  I think he's actually terrified of
getting his hopes up about the baby.  His first wife miscarried three
times, once she carried as long as six months."
     "How do you know that?  Mom never said anything about it."
     "I don't know if she knows.  Last New Years when we were waiting
together in the hospital to find out how you were... Well you know it
tore me apart.  I was barely holding it together... I felt so helpless
and miserable... so guilty.  Your mom had gone to call your friend and
tell her that we couldn't make her party, he told me then.  He said
that I'd feel forgotten, left out, that people would forget that I'd
lost a baby, too.  Dana love, I could still hear the pain in his voice
and that had to have happened ten, fifteen years ago.  Yeah, he wants
this baby but after what he's been through he's afraid that he's going
to lose one or the other of them or both.  I can understand how he
feels."  The pain was just below the surface in Mulder's voice.
     "Fox, you aren't going to lose me."
     "I know, love.  It's just that sometimes I get scared.  Anyway,
that's why I didn't clean his clock for making you cry.  I did however
inform him that if he does it again I would punch him out.  He didn't
argue, and he said to tell you how sorry he was for taking out the
week's frustrations on you.  Walt said he only meant to tell you that
mom couldn't keep the dog anymore for awhile but once he started he
couldn't seem to stop.  He was really upset that he had made you cry."
He paused knowing that Dana wasn't going to be too happy about what he
had to say next.  His wife looked at him raising her eyebrow
questioningly.
     "I sort of told him not to feel too bad that it wasn't as hard as
it normally is to make you cry."
     "Mulder, you didn't?"
     "Sorry, angel, I let slip that you were pregnant."
     "I thought we had agreed to wait a little while?  At least until
the second trimester.  I didn't even tell mom today."
     "I know but... well he felt bad enough already... and he's
dealing with so much..."  He gave her his best puppy dog grin and
finished.  "He thought it was great.  First smile I'd seen from him
all day."
     Dana sighed and wondered why it was that for someone who claimed
to only tolerate their boss Mulder couldn't keep anything from him.
This day was shaping up to be full of surprises.

     One fifteen.  Meg and Walter Skinner were cuddled up together on
the bed after having made love rather wildly.  Meg was running her
hands over his chest and hoping that her son and daughter had left,
they had been rather loud.  While Walter was contemplating that a
couple of weeks of celibacy had added a certain intensity.  <Certain
actions became habit forming rather quickly,> he smiled at the
thought.  They would have to talk soon or they wouldn't have time to
before Meg's appointment with Amy Chan.  Walter sighed, he hoped he
could find the words to let his wife know how he felt about the baby.
<How come Fox could figure out how I felt when I couldn't.> That
thought made him a bit uncomfortable.  <One problem at a time.>
     "Meg, I love you and I don't want to lose you."  He felt her
stiffen at his words.  "The only reason I mentioned abortion is that I
know that it's risky to have a baby at your age.  Please, honey, don't
withdraw there are some things you need to hear."
     "Walter, I just can't consider an abortion.  Please don't ask me
to.  I can still remember the pain of my lost children.  I had two
miscarriages and they were so hard.  I know this baby is inconvenient,
that you don't want it but..."
     "Meg, wait... stop... please.  That's what I want to tell
you... to explain.  It's what that bull dog son of mine made me see or
at least realize.  I do want this baby.  Very much.  Annie and I tried
so hard.  I told you that we tried to have children but that her
health wouldn't let us.  What I didn't tell you is that she had three
miscarriages.  And everyone broke our heart.  So yes I do understand
that pain.
     "When you told me you were pregnant... I shut down... all I could
think about was the pain of losing you.  After the last miscarriage we
found out about her heart problems and that those pregnancies probably
cut short her life.  I got scared... hell I still am.  So much can go
wrong.  I'm so afraid to hope...  to think that maybe I could be a
father... to have a child of my own, our child.  Abortion was the easy
way out.  It would be done, over, you would be safe and I wouldn't
have to spend each day waiting for the call to come and tell me I lost
another child."
     "You want our baby?  This baby."  Meg was stunned.  She had been
so upset about facing pregnancy and motherhood again that she had been
sure Walter felt the same way.  It hadn't occurred to her that he
would want a baby this late in life.  <Well what do you know?> Dana
had been an unwanted child when she first had her and now Margaret
couldn't imagine life without her and her crazy wonderful husband.
Suddenly all the hassles of being pregnant and having a baby didn't
seem so monumental.  He wanted a child... his child and she was going
to give him one.  She hoped it was a boy... with his build... yes nice
and tall for a change... his face... but maybe her family's hair.  A
happy smile spread across her face as she stroked her belly.
     Walter watched the transformation on his wife's face.  Saw her go
from melancholy resignation about their baby to joyful acceptance.  As
her look became one of amusement he asked, "What's so funny, Meg?"
     She smirked up at him.  "I was just picturing the baby if it was
a boy and hoping that he has your height but my hair."
     Walter laughed at that as he ran his hand along the side of his
head.  "I'll agree with that.  Is this like Burger King do we get it
our way?"
     "No, unfortunately it doesn't work that way.  They normally get
all of the traits about yourself that you can't stand and drive you
crazy with them."
     He laughed at that, "Well I know where Scully got her
stubbornness from, who did Melissa get her wild streak from?"
     Meg leaned over and punched him gently in the arm then rolled on
top of him kissing him soundly.  "Sometime I'll tell you about my
youth but right now we've got to get to my doctor's appointment.  Time
to get up."
     "I was just up..."
     Before he could continue she swatted him on the side of his hip
and accused, "You've been hanging around Fox and his bird too much,
dear, their sense of humor is rubbing off."

     It had been a long day.  Dana had left work before Fox to pick up
some dessert for the evening meal.  She couldn't believe that Skinner
was actually going to cook.  "He's been single for a long time,
Scully, you think he ate every meal out?"  Mulder had laughed at her.
"Most bachelors I know can manage steak, even I could do that most of
the time without burning them."  So here she was picking up pecan pie
for dessert and driving Skinner's car.  <Sheesh... The man drove a
tank.  Maybe Fox had a point about big cars.  Well I guess when you're
as tall as Skinner the extra leg room is nice.>
     Her partner was busy with Angela getting some files ready for
their boss to review at home.  He figured that he should be able to
carry enough to keep the AD busy all day Saturday at the apartment and
then Sunday she and Fox would find something to occupy her mom.
Sometimes her mom could be so stubborn.  Dana wanted to be mad at
Skinner for leaving her mom alone but after spending most of the
morning with mom she quickly realized whose fault that had been.  Mom
was in Mother mode, she took care of everybody else but refused to let
them look after her.  Only once during her childhood could Dana
remember her mom actually spending the whole day in bed sick and she
had only done that because her father had come in and found her passed
out on the kitchen floor the night before.  He'd threatened to take
her to the base hospital if she didn't promise to spend the entire
next day in bed.  Margaret Scully had promised and stuck to it but she
had thought her mom was going to climb the walls before the day was
out.  She suddenly didn't envy her step-father the task of getting her
mom to take it easy throughout this pregnancy.  Especially not with
both her daughters pregnant as well.  Dana sighed, time would tell.
     Dana fidgeted outside the door to Skinner's apartment.  No sign
of Mulder.  Blast.  She didn't want to face her step-father alone.
The pain of last night was still fresh in her mind.  <Oh well I can't
stand out here forever.> She rang the door bell.
     The door was opened quickly by her boss.  "Scully, come on in.
Mulder called a few minutes ago to say that he and Angela spotted some
irregularities in some files that Davis handled.  He wants to double
check the other ones now that he knows what to look for so that I can
review them all tomorrow.  He's going to be at least another
forty-five minutes."
     <Damn,> Scully thought to herself.
     "Meg's resting."  Walter continued trying to ignore the grimace
that passed over his step daughter's face.  "The trip to the doctor
wore her out but the nausea has improved.  Can I get you something to
drink?  Lemonade, coke, iced tea?"
     "No wine?"
     "Not based on what Fox told me today.  Congratulations."  Walter
smiled warmly at her.  He could tell that she wasn't relaxed.  <I sure
hope she isn't going to hold last night against me forever.> "I hope
Fox told you how sorry I am about last night.  I didn't mean it at all
the way it sounded.  Blame it on too little food and sleep and way to
much stress."
     "That's alright, sir.  I understand."
     Now it was his turn to grimace.  "Scully... Dana, I realize that
you probably don't want to call me dad, but when we're off duty
Walter, or even Walt, would be nice."
     "Not Wally?"  She smiled at his grimace.
     "I'll even live with Wally, if that's what it takes."
     She laughed at that, "That's alright, sir, I'll leave Wally for
Fox, I'll try Walter.  Can I help some with dinner."
     "I'll let you do the salad."  He led the way into the kitchen.

     Dinner had been good.  Much more relaxing and enjoyable than any
of the parties would have thought considering how the day had started.
Dr. Chan had examined Margaret Skinner and was optimistic about her
chances to carry the baby to full or near term.  She had placed her on
hormones.  It was her supposition that the estrogen replacement
therapy that Margaret had gone on at the beginning of menopause was
what had made her uterus viable for pregnancy and that the addition of
the hormones would help her carry to term.  Other than monitoring her
more closely than her younger mothers, two appointments a month rather
than one and Margaret was to have her blood pressure and urine checked
weekly rather than monthly, she was on the same routine as any other
pregnant woman.  When they got up from the table to go and sit in the
living room Fox said, "Mom, you and Walt go on in and sit down.  Dana
and I will clean up the kitchen."
     "There's no need for that Fox I can handle it later."
     "You cooked, Walt, we'll clean."  As Skinner started to protest
Mulder continued.  "Look you may feel better but you still look like
hell.  We've had a much easier week so let us do something for a
change."
     At the stubborn look on his son-in-laws face he acquiesced.  He
was feeling rather tired.
     Fox and Dana carried the dishes into the kitchen and began the
process of straightening up.  "Well they seem to have made up."  Fox
commented.
     "I'm glad.  Mom was so miserable this morning.  You know from
some of the comments she made over dinner I think that she is really
starting to want this baby."
     "I do, too.  But something is still bothering her.  Any ideas,
Shorts?"
     "No why don't you ask her over dessert?  She seems to have a soft
spot for you."
     They hadn't heard Walter come in until he joined the
conversation.  "I agree, Fox.  Something happened at the doctor's
office to upset her but she won't tell me about it.  You seem to have
a way with women, particularly Meg, so I thought she might tell you.
Dana and I can occupy ourselves in here for a couple of minutes
getting dessert ready."
     Mulder returned to the living room to find Meg staring at the
empty fireplace.  Before he could say anything she spoke.  "Walter
sent you in here to find out what's wrong, didn't he?"
     Fox shrugged and grinned at her.  "So, you going to tell me?"
     "I don't know why he has to be so damned over protective."
Margaret was shocked when she heard Fox bite back a sharp laugh.  She
looked at him indignantly.
     "I'm sorry, Mom, but for a minute there you had red hair and
freckles."
     Meg grinned at that.  "I take it Dana has the same complaint."
     "Always and forever.  When you get mad at him just try to
remember what he went through with his first wife."
     She nodded suddenly understanding and wondering how Fox knew
about that.  "That's why you understand him so well isn't it?  That
sense of the fragileness of life and those feelings of loss.  You two
are alot alike aren't you?"
     He took her hand and squeezed it.  "Don't tell him that, okay.
He's not real comfortable with things as they are now anyway."
     "Are you?"
     "No, Mom, I'm not.  It's hard for me to let anyone get close and
sometime during this last week I discovered that I let that tight
assed, hard headed son of a bitch that you married get a lot closer
than I'm comfortable with."  Meg smiled at the way Fox admitted his
feelings for her husband.  <Men.  They'd rather walk across hot coals
than admit that they might like each other, much less feel anything
stronger.>
     "So you still haven't told me what happened at the Doctor's
office?"
     Neither Meg nor Fox paid attention as Dana and Walter came back
into the room to sit down carrying dessert.
     "There were all these young women there, Fox.  It made me feel so
old.  I would catch them staring at me.  One of them even asked if I
had come with my daughter.  Amy's practice is entirely maternity so
that they couldn't figure out why I was there.  Then the nurses, I
heard them making a joke about little miracles.  Well I felt so
embarrassed and silly like I should have known better."
     Fox got up from the chair he was sitting in and sat down on the
coffee table in front of his mother-in-law.  He took one of her hands
in his and used the other hand to brush the hair off the side of her
face.  Dana and Walter held their breath.  They both knew that
Margaret Skinner was going to be facing a lot of stares and comments
over the next few months and could only hope that Fox had an idea as
to how to help her through.
     "Mom, when you feel like that... embarassed and silly you just
remember that God has given you a little miracle.  Much more so than
any of those other women.  You should be too old to have a child, yet
there it is growing inside you so that you can give your husband the
most wonderful gift in the world.  Your own special miracle from God."
     As she wiped the tears from her eyes Meg said, "Thankyou, Fox."
     "It's okay, Mom, I can't think of two more deserving people than
you and Dad.  Now how 'bout some desert before the ice cream melts."
Fox stood up and took his pie and ice cream from Dana.  Smiling at her
as he noticed her wipe tears from her eyes, he joined her in the big
easy chair.  He felt a bit like crying himself.  This had been one
emotional day and he hoped that things would settle down for awhile.
He hadn't dared look at Skinner.  He'd slipped when he'd called him
dad and shocked himself.  <God only knows how he's going to react to
that.>
     The rest of the evening went by quickly, with Margaret and Dana
dominating the conversation.  Fox and Walter had gotten very quiet
both lost in their own thoughts.  Fox was concerned that his slip
would make his boss uncomfortable, he knew that he had made himself
pretty damned ill at ease.  <When the hell did I start feeling like
this about my boss?>
     Walter was being pulled in too many directions to keep his
thoughts straight.  He was beginning to accept and hope that he might
one day be a father, he was grateful to Fox for helping Meg but he was
very shaken by the feelings that he was realizing existed between
himself and his rogue agent.  He was definitely having trouble
deciding how to handle the situation.  <It's not a situation, it's a
person.  Fox Mulder.  What the hell am I going to do about this?  It
sure wasn't maintaining a professional distance.>
     By ten they were all dead on their feet so Dana and Fox got up to
go.  At the door she hugged her mom, turned to Skinner and held out
her hand to shake his.  Things were still strained from the night
before and he was still her boss.  Fox looked up from hugging Meg to
see Walter tense.  His father's eyes grew cold.  Before Fox would have
figured that it was his boss withdrawing not wanting anybody too
close, now he realized that Dana's retreat from the hug she normally
gave him had hurt her step-father, especially since Skinner knew that
he deserved it.  Dana was out the door and as Fox went to join her
Walter held out his hand to shake.  Fox ignored the hand and grabbed
Skinner in a bear hug which the shocked AD returned.  In a voice so
soft that only Walter heard Fox whispered, "We'll make it through,
Dad."  Then Walter found himself lose and Fox out the door.
     As he closed the door he saw Meg watching him.  He was feeling a
bit stunned.  "Mulder, never ceases to amaze me."  He replied in
answer to her unspoken question.
     She smiled at him, took his arm and answered, "Me either,
dear. Me either.  Come on to bed, Walter.  I think you've had enough
shocks for the week."

That's it for now.  Let me know what you think.
E-mail me at 72620.3447@compuserve.com or Eowyn7@ix.netcom.com
Eowyn