After stopping by the FBI building in Boston to find living relatives of the people they found who didn’t live in Maplesville, Mulder and Samantha went to Mrs. Mulder’s house in Massachusetts. Scully decided to go with them. Mulder took out a key and unlocked the door.
    “Fox!” Mulder’s mother exclaimed as she came out of the kitchen.
    “Hi, Mom.” He went in, Scully and Samantha following behind. “Shouldn’t you be resting?”
    “Oh, stop it. Do you really expect me to stay in bed? I have things to do, you know.” She smiled. “What’re you doing here? … Oh, hello, Dana. How are you?”
    Scully smiled. “Fine, ma’am.”
    “That’s good.”
    “Mom, I need to talk to you for a second.” Mulder unconsciously put on his puppy-dog face.
    “Fox, please don’t look at me that way. Who’s your friend here?” Mrs. Mulder’s eyes lingered on Samantha for a moment. “She looks familiar.”
    “Mom, please? It’s very important.” He led her to the back yard.
    Scully could see what was going on through the glass doors, but could not hear a word. She knew what was happening, though. Mulder sat his mother down in a chair and knelt in front of her. They talked for a moment and then Mrs. Mulder suddenly gasped. They talked for a moment more, Mrs. Mulder nodding. She hugged Mulder tightly, her shoulders shaking; she was probably crying. Mulder comforted her gently, stood up, and pulled his mother to her feet. She wiped her tears away and they both came in. Scully tried to make it look like she hadn’t been watching.
    Mrs. Mulder approached Samantha slowly. “Samantha? Is it really you?”
    Samantha smiled. “Yes, Mom. It’s me.”
    They hugged each other tightly. Scully looked at Mulder. Tears were in his eyes looking just about ready to overflow. Mrs. Mulder beckoned Mulder to join in their embrace. The three Mulders held each other, reunited at last. Scully walked out the door. This was one of those “family only” moments.
    Scully stood outside, looking at the sky and the birds and the flowers. She was happy for Mulder. He had finally achieved the one goal he had had for over 20 years. Her mind wandered. Mulder had told her on their first assignment together about how his sister disappeared one night when he was 12. About how he wanted to find Samantha since that day and how “Nothing else matters.” Scully wondered. Since Mulder found his sister, would he still work on the X-Files? If he chose not to, what would she do with her life? Scully realized that Mulder was the only friend she had that hadn’t died or totally disowned her. She remembered telling someone- a priest maybe? - that Mulder was her strength. She needed strength, especially now that her cancer was getting worse. She sighed. She’d hate to lose her strength. Mulder was a good friend.
    The door opened behind her and Mulder stepped out. Scully smiled. Mulder looked happy- happier than she’s ever seen him. He looked at her and put an arm around her shoulders. They stared at the clouds. “I’m taking some time off to be with my sister,” he said quietly.
    Scully didn’t answer.
    “What’ll you do then?
    She paused. “I don’t know. I’ll probably take some time off too.”
    He grinned. “Just don’t get another tattoo.”
    She glared at him. He gave her another one of his puppy-dog faces. She smiled and they resumed staring at the clouds.
    "Hey, could you stick around in Massachussetts for a while?"
    "I guess. Why?"
    "I don't know. Just in case something weird happens. Like last time."
    She nodded, understanding only too well.
    They were silent for a while, standing side by side in the walkway and looking at the sky. Mulder seemed to hesitate for a moment. “Scully?”
    “Yes?”
    “Thanks,” he said quietly. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
    No more was said. They stood there contentedly, as silent as the clouds they watched glide by.