Disclaimer:  Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, the X-Files, and associated
characters are property of David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Chris Carter,
Ten-Thirteen Productions and Fox Broadcasting Corporation.  They are used
without permission and no copyright infringement is meant.

Any elements not recognized as being taken from the show copyright
Christina Shuy.

Comments and other things sent to cshuy@netcom.com are much appreciated.

Author's note:  This is part of the continuation to my story "Raining
Sleeping Bags" and "When it Rains it Pours".  It would help if you read
those stories first, but it's not absolutely necessary.

Rating:  PG for language, MSR,

Spoilers for Emily, Detour, and a few other episodes of Season 5... and
the rest of the show too.

Summary:  Who would have thought 'mothmen' would be good for something?
*giggle* (note: Set immediately after "Emily" - and this one's a happy
ending.)

Another Door Opens...
by Christina Shuy
cshuy@netcom.com

      The ambiance of the house was sad.  The residents and guests were
just returning after a funeral in which a member of their family whom they
hadn't even really known was there had been lain to rest.  It was a long,
compliated mess, and dealing with it was draining.

      The door to the guest bedroom opened and a couple walked in.  The
door was closed behind the tall, lanky man, and he waited.  He knew there
was something on the mind of his red-haired companion, but he also knew
she would tell him in her own time.

      "Mulder, we have to talk... Something between us has changed." She
turned to look into his eyes, hoping he'd take this the right way.

      "What are you trying to tell me, Dana?" Mulder murmured.  There was a
knawing fear in his chest.  He hoped she wasn't about to do anything
permanent and painful, like leaving him, whether it be in work or even in
life.

      Dana Scully, his partner in work and in life, had been strangely
 subdued in the last few weeks, but he knew she'd been dealing with the
 just-ended crisis with regards to a little girl who had strangely turned
 out to be her own.

      "Dana?  It's time for- What is he still doing here?!  I don't even
 know why-" Bill Scully, Jr., burst into the room, the distaste on his face
 evident as he saw his sister talking to her partner.

      "Bill, Mulder and I were having a private conversation, and since
 when do you not knock before coming into a room when you know I'm in it?"

      "Dana, haven't you been hurt by him enough?  Hasn't this family been
 hurt by him enough?!  First your abduction, then Missy getting killed,
 then your cancer, now this."  With every word, it was obvious Bill
 Scully's anger was growing.  Mulder only looked at the floor, the guilt
 flooding his face.  Dana Scully noticed, and her temper flared as she
 turned back to face her older brother.

      "Bill, get out of here.  *NOW*.  I have something I need to tell
 Mulder first before I come downstairs for dinner with him.  And what I
 have to say is not only important, it's between me and him."

      "Oh no, he's not-"

      "Mom invited him with Tara's blessing, Bill, and Mulder accepted.
 Now will you please leave before I lose my temper and beat you up the way
 I did that once when we were kids.  Only this time I've had better
 training.  Now *GO*."

      Grumbling under his breath, Bill left.

      "What was that all about, Scully?"

      Dana turned back to face her partner, and her love.  "Fox..."

      Mulder's eyes darkened.  Scully only used his first name when it was
 important and they were both off duty, though occasionally when they were
 on duty as well.  Unfortunately, the fist of paranoia clenched in his
 chest.  With her having been somewhat emotionally distant recently,
 perhaps she had come to a decision.  The ultimate unthinkable decision.
 She couldn't be-

      Dana Scully saw the emotions in her partner's eyes even as he spoke.
 "Scully... what does this mean-"

      "Hush, Fox...  Listen to me." She smiled, pulling him closer before
 kissing him lightly. "I'm pregnant." she whispered into the kiss.

      As she kissed him, what she'd said finally registered, and he pulled
 away slightly with a shocked expression on his face.

      "You're *what*?!"  He looked about to faint.

      She smiled.  "Pregnant."  Her face fell as her doubts set in with
 Mulder's reaction.  "You do... you *do* want this child... don't you?"

      "Yes... but... I-I thought... .the infertility... your ova..."There
 was hesitation in his eyes as he considered all the possibilities, but she
 could see it was only because he was afraid of being disappointed.

      The smile returned to her lips and her eyes. "Apparently I'm not
 infertile after all..."

      "B-b-but we've been... we've been taking precautions... even with
 that in mind..."

      She smiled brighter.  "Not the first time.... Or even the first few
 times... remember?"

      First, memory flashed across his face.  The woods in Florida.  Her
 apartment upon their return from Florida.  Then, there was a sudden spark
 of light in Mulder's eyes... one of misheviousness.  "Mothmen?  Really?"
 He grinned at her, echoing her words from that first night.  They'd been
 doing that a lot recently... reflecting each other's words... as well as
 sharing a great deal of emotion.  If either of them had smiled any
 brighter, it could have lit Washington DC, or San Diego, for a week.

      She laughed, pulled him closer again, and kissed him.  "Who knows?
 Maybe they're good for fertility."

      Dana Scully had been looking rather wan and downtrodden since finding
 and then losing the little girl who was her daughter.  Emily had been a
 line to a dream she hadn't even known she'd had until she had found out
 and been told that she couldn't have children.

      However, since Mulder had arrived in San Diego as a favour to her,
 her mood had improved a great deal.  As a matter of fact, when he had
 first walked into her line of sight, she had given him a bright smile and
 went over to hug him.

      Then, when she was presented with the news of her pregnancy, she knew
 there was only one person who could have helped her realise one of her
 dreams.  That person was standing in the room with her, and she was
 kissing him with all the love she had for him in her heart.

      "Well, then, good for us." he smiled, kissing her.

      "Mulder, are you really happy for us?"

      "Very much so... Dana... I've always wanted a family with you... and
 since we're on the subject of family..." Mulder dropped to his knees. "I
 don't have the ring with me and I *do* have one back home... Dana
 Katherine Scully... love of my life, mother of my child, loyal partner,
 best friend and confidante... will you marry me?"

      Dana looked down at her partner.  "I... Ring?  I...  Mulder... are
 you sure?"

      "I want to marry you because I love you, not just because of the fact
 that you are carrying our child.  And believe me, I really *do* want this
 child of ours.  Do you have any doubts?  Because I don't."

      "I.... No... I don't either.  it's just that after this mess with
 Emily, I... Well, it's going to take me a while to...."

      "Scully, this doesn't have to be a shotgun wedding... even though we
 are expecting this little miracle...  And you don't even *have* to say
 yes.  It's been something that has been on my mind for quite a while now
 and I... I just wanted to ask and see if what you feel is what I feel and
 vice versa." There was a gentle sparkle in his eyes and she found herself
 drowning in them, as she always did.

      "Are you saying you're willing to give me time to consider my answer?"

      "All the time in the world, my love."

      "Oh, Mulder..."

      "I do have one question, though..."

      Scully's eyebrow rose.  "And that would be?"

      "How did you find out you were pregnant?"

      "Well, I've been waking up in the morning feeling decidely nauseated.
 I asked the doctor to check it out when I was in the hospital watching
 over Emily.  He ran everything he could think of, including a pregnancy
 test, just to be on the safe side.  I got the call just before I left this
 morning for the funeral to tell me I was about two months along.  It was a
 strange whirl of emotion to say the least..."

      It was then that Dana's stomach chose to grumble, reminding her of
 the fact that she was already beyond starving.

      "Let's go down to dinner.  I'm hungry."

      Mulder smiled, and let her lead the way.

 ***

      "So, you just can't help getting her involved in your work again, eh,
 Mister Mulder?" Bill's voice was filled with loathing, disgust, and
 contempt.

      "Bill, this is not-" Dana began.

      "I don't believe how rude you are being, Bill." Maggie Scully said at
 the same time, directing a glare at her son.

      "I didn't get her involved in this.  This was something that just
 fell into her lap.  I had-" Mulder started.

      "I was referring to *Emily Simm*, Mister."  Bill's voice took on the
 tone he apparently used on his subordinates, especially insubordinate
 ones.

      "What would Mulder have to do with Emily?" Scully asked, standing up
 and looking down at her older brother in the midst of his overprotective
 bit.

      "The people who created Emily had to kidnap you to do it.  Not only
 that, they kept her from you to manipulate you, just as your *partner*
 here has kept things from you to manipulate you.  I will bet he knows
 exactly what happened to you when you were gone for those three months and
 has yet to tell you, just like with the fact of HOW your eggs were
 extracted!" Bill's loathing was so thick, it was nearly paletable.

      "That is quite enough-" Maggie Scully began, remembering how often
 there had been arguments when the whole family was younger.

      "And what about you?!  Where were you for Mom when I was gone?  Or
 when I came back in a coma?!  Mulder was there for her.  Mom has told me.
 *Mulder* was even there for me when I found out I had cancer which,
 despite what you may think, was also not his fault.  Mulder has always
 been there for me.  I can't say the same for you.  In fact, Mulder asked
 me an important question this evening, and I have just decided... Yes,
 Mulder, the answer is yes." Scully turned to him and grasped his hand
 tightly in her own.

      "Uh... Scully, could I have a word with you?" Mulder murmured.

      "Certainly.  Excuse us." Dana's temper was certainly showing.

      They walked out into the living room and Scully turned to face Mulder.

      "What's the problem Mulder?  I just told them I am going to marry
 you.  I was about to tell them what the question you asked me was."

      Mulder breathed a sigh.  This was not going the way he had wanted or
 intended, and he hoped what he was about to say would at least make sense.
 "Dana, don't do this just to spite them.  I was going to give you all the
 time you needed anyway before answering.  I don't want you to jump into
 this and-"

      "Fox, are you asking if I regret my answer?  Because if you are, the
 answer is still the same.  I want to marry you.  I think I have for the
 longest time."

      "But what about this argument between yourself and your brother?
 He's going to hate me.  I think he's going to think that you're agreeing
 to marry me because of some sort of obligation to me. In fact, he already
 *does* hate me because he thinks I keep putting you in danger, and I can't
 help feeling that he's right.  I do put you into a lot of dangerous
 situations-"

      "Mulder, listen to me.  I knew what I was getting into when I joined
 the FBI.  I've been through Quantico, just like you have.  I would
 probably be in different types of dangerous situations regardless of
 whether or not you're my partner.  That's part of being an FBI agent,
 isn't it?"

      "I suppose-"

      "Then don't worry about Bill.  My mother thinks a lot of you, and so
 did Melissa, and that's enough for me.  I know the cancer isn't your
 fault, despite what Bill may think.  He has been trying to be the man of
 the family since my father died, and he still has a tendancy to be
 overprotect-"

      "Dana?  Fox?  Is everything all right?" Maggie Scully walked into the
 living room, concern written on her features.

      At the sound of her mother's voice, Dana turned and favoured her with
 a bright smile.  "Everything's fine, Mom... *more* than fine, as a matter
 of fact." She gave Mulder a wink and he was forced to look down at the
 floor, blushing.

      "Oh?  The way you two walked out of dinner, I thought there might be
 a problem..." As she studied her daughter and her partner, Maggie's smile
 bloomed on her features.

      "No.  No problem, aside from Bill, that is.  Mulder and I just had a
 few things we needed to clarify before... Mom, why are you smiling like
 that?" Dana's eyebrow raised the way it usually did right before Mulder
 gave her one of his crazy theories.

      "Oh... I've just been noticing the closeness between you and Dana
 since you got here, Fox, and I think I know what Dana was answering yes
 to... am I right?"

      "I... uh..." Mulder gulped.  "That would be up to your daughter, Mrs.
 Scully."

      "If it's what you're thinking, Mom, yes... you're right." Dana said,
 the bright glow returning to her face, the sparkle to her eyes.

      "Welcome to the family, Fox.  And it's about time.  For *both* of
 you." Maggie Scully beamed.  "I was starting to wonder what was taking you
 both so long."

      "Mother's intuition... Must be an X File." Dana grinned at her now
 beaming fiance.

      "I'll say..." Mulder murmured.  "Though there is a little bit of news
 your mother doesn't know.  Why don't you tell her, Dana..."

      "What news?" Her mother asked.

      "I'm... umm... pregnant."

      There was loud thump behind them and they all turned around to see
 Bill's wife, Tara, lying flat on her back and Bill trying to wake her up.

      "I take it I don't have to ask who the father is." Maggie grinned,
 and both of them nodded, Mulder blushing brighter red than he had
 previously.

      "Did I hear righr?" Tara asked, her expresion indicating that she was
 more than shocked.  She'd only just woken up.

      "You did, Tara.  I'm pregnant."

      "And I suppose I don't have to ask who the father is...?" Maggie
 asked again, causing a furious blush on Mulder's face, and a big smile on
 Dana's.

     "So you're marrying him just because you're pregnant?  Dana, that is
 the stupidest-" Bill glared at Mulder.

      "Bill, shut up.  I love Mulder, and *that* is why I'm going to marry
 him.  Being pregnant, and getting there, is just the icing on the cake."
 Dana glared at her older brother before looking at Mulder.

      'That was the fun part.' was the look Mulder was giving her, and
 there was a hint of a blush on Dana's cheeks as well.

      "I'm still going to object." Bill said.  "In fact, I still *do*
 object."

      "William Scully, I am ashamed of you.  Judging people before you've
 met them.  Your father and I raised you better than that." Margaret
 Scully's voice sharpened.  "And what have I told you about eavesdropping?"

      "But this is *my* house."

      "Bill, that argument didn't work when we were kids and it's not
 working *now*." Dana's tone was waspish.

      "Dana, don't.  You don't want to do something you may regret later."
 Mulder said.

      "What gives you the right to call her 'Dana'?  Get the Hell out of my
 house!" Bill shouted.

      "I can because she gave me permission to, and because I love her.  As
 for getting out of your house... well, I suppose I should, since I'm
 really an uninvited guest." Mulder shrugged.

      "Fox, wait." Maggie Scully said.  "William Scully, I want you to
 apologize right this instant."

      "I can't believe how rude you're being to a guest, Bill." Tara said.
 Right then, there was the sound of crying from the baby monitor which was
 clipped to her waist.  "And you've also just woken up Matthew.  Come with
 me, Bill.  We need to talk while I take care of Matthew."

      Bill and Tara walked out of the room, with Bill giving Mulder a 'this
 is far from over' look before he left.

      "I really must apologize for my brother, Mulder." Dana said, putting
 her arms around him.

      "That's ok.  You can't choose your relatives.  It doesn't matter
 anyway.  I love you, Dana." Mulder smiled into her hair.

      "Don't we have a wedding to plan?" Maggie smiled.

      "No, Mom, I think I might have overstayed my welcome How about we
 plan the wedding when we get back to DC?"

      Before anyone could answer, there was the sound of a celphone
 ringing.  It turned out to be Mulder's and he answered it.  Dana watched
 as her partner paled.  Quickly he hung up.

      "Well, Scully... it looks like we're needed back in DC after all.
 Skinner's got the trip already arranged."

      "What's wrong, Mulder." Dana asked.

      "Modell's escaped.  We need to get going."

      "Won't take but a moment to pack." Dana said, heading up the stairs.

      Before Bill and Tara returned down staris, Mulder and Dana were out
 the door.  Maggie understood.  This case was important, especially judging
 by their expressions.

      "Once more unto the breach, dear friend." Dana murmured, kissing
 Mulder gently before they drove off."

 -the End.-

 "The Truth is Out There.  Trust No One."- from "The X-Files"
 Pursuing a BS (Electrical Engineering)-Winter Quarter 1998(Phil380,EE210)
 "You jump, I jump, right?" Jack Dawson/Rose DeWitt Bukater "Titanic"
 Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area.
 "The name sounds familiar, but I can't quite place the face." Winnie the Pooh