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. "Lady Madonna" is written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney and performed by the Beatles. As far as I'm concerned, that means they own it! 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. Rating: G, MSR (what *else* from this series?), Mrs. Scully-Skinner Romance Spoilers: none; Summary: Three children to babysit... all of them under 7. The Beatles Files: "Lady Madonna" by Christina Shuy cshuy@netcom.com Margaret Scully was in a quandry. There was almost complete chaos in her house. It had been a busy time at the FBI, and as a result, she was babysitting her grandchildren, as well as her soon-to-be stepdaughter. "Grandma, can we play 'Lady Madonna'?" Michelle asked. Michelle Mulder had Clare Skinner in front of her, and she was quietly braiding the younger girl's hair after having been taught how to braid by both Margaret herself and Fox Mulder. "Certainly, Michelle." Maggie smiled at her. She had already put the CD with the Beatles favourites of both children in the CD player. She hit the play button on the remote and the music started. "Lady Madonna, children at your feet. Wonder how you manage to make ends meet. Who finds the money? When you pay the rent? Did you think that money was heaven sent?" Maggie smiled at the lyric, remembering times in the past when she and Bill Scully had been short on money and the family had been growing. If it hadn't been for help from the Navy and from friends, they would have been in trouble several times. During those times, the money really was heaven sent. "Friday night arrives without a suitcase. Sunday morning creep in like a nun. Monday's child has learned to tie his bootlace. See how they run." Maggie watched, smiling, as the little girls wriggled to the music while still seated on the floor. They were, thankfully, not a problem. Michelle's brother, however, was an entirely different story. David Maxwell Scully was living up to his name, partially derived from the Beatles' song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer", and partially derived from Dana Scully (Mulder) having renamed Mulder 'David' many years before they had gotten to know one another. Either way, the combination was causing quite some chaos. David was chasing after his grandmother's cat and then crying when the cat clawed him for being mean. "Grama... cat scratched me." David pouted, tears in his eyes. "David, dear, you have to stop being so mean to it." Maggie smiled at her grandson. "Lady Madonna, baby at your breast. Wonder how you manage to feed the rest. See how they run. Lady Madonna, lying on the bed, Listen to the music playing in your head. Tuesday afternoon is never ending. Wednesday morning papers didn't come. Thursday night you stockings needed mending. See how they run. Lady Madonna, children at your feet. Wonder how you manage to make ends meet." "Margaret? Margaret, are you in here?" Walter Skinner's voice rang out in the hallway of her home. "Daddy!!!" Clare got up from where she was having her hair braided and ran to him. Walter Skinner picked up his daughter in his arms and smiled brightly. Though she still looked frighteningly like Sharon, it was now a trait in her he loved, especially since Clare also adored Maggie. It felt to him as though Sharon was smiling in approval at the way he and their daughter were coping. "Hello, Walter." Maggie smiled, walking over to kiss him lightly. "Look who I brought with me." Skinner grinned. Special Agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder were behind him. "Daddy! Mommy!" Six-year-old Michelle Mulder ran for Dana Scully and was picked up immediately. "I'm so glad you're back!" "I missed you too, Michelle..." Dana Scully smiled, swinging her daughter around once before setting her back down on the floor. "David!" Mulder called over to his wayward son. David, of course, wasn't listening. He was too busy chasing after the cat... *again*. "David Maxwell Scully, get over here immediately!" Fox Mulder's voice rang out. It did the trick, though, getting the little boy's attention. "Daddy! You back!" David's voice still held traces of the baby lisp. "Yes, I'm back. And what are you doing?" "Oh... nothing." David said, innocently, flashing his father a look which caused both of his parents to burst out laughing. "He's most definitely your son, Mulder." Skinner teased. "Uh... yeah, that he is. Didn't you have something to ask Maggie?" Mulder stammered slightly. "Oh, yes, of course." Skinner looked nervous. "What is it, Walter?" Maggie asked, bringing out several glasses of iced tea and lemonade. "Uh, Maggie..." Walter Skinner's voice failed him. "Yes?" Margaret Scully turned to look at Skinner. There was a question in Walter's eyes and she smiled warmly. "Yes, of course I will." "That's a proposal?" Mulder asked. "It is when you know Walter." "Shouldn't we start planning?" Scully asked. "Mommy, are they gonna get married?" Michelle asked. "I believe so, Michelle." "Well it's about time!" Michelle declared loudly. There was general laughter heard. -The End- "The Truth is Out There. Trust No One."- from "The X-Files" Pursuing a BS degree(Electrical Engineering)-EE 332(Systems Analysis)-Su97 "In the moment that you think you can't, you'll discover that you can." - Celine Dion - "Power of the Dream" "Let's get Dangerous!" - Darkwing Duck. Looking for work and a place to live... somewhere in the SanFran Bay Area.