Title: They're Here (Part 3) Author: L. M. Shard E-Mail Address: lsshard@home.com Date: July 26, 2001 Rating: PG-13 Category: T, R, and A Spoilers: Season 8 Keywords: Scully/Doggett romance, Scully/Mulder, Mulder/other, post-colonization, character death Disclaimer: Chris Carter, 1013 Productions, and Fox own these characters with exception of Megan, Katie, and Johnny. Those three came out of my own imagination. No copyright infringement intended. Archive: Anywhere, just let me know where! Feedback: Yes, please! I love it! Summary: Mulder leaves Scully hoping to mend his broken heart, but can it be mended? Author's Note: This is the final sequel to my other two stories called "They're Here" and "They're Here Part 2". This part would make more sense if the other two parts were read first. I have altered some of the baby facts in this story to stay consistent with my other two stories, the first of which was written before the Season 8 finale. Enjoy! THEY'RE HERE (PART 3, Section I) By: L. M. Shard About five days had passed since Mulder left Scully and Katie behind. It was one of the most difficult things he had ever done. Each night, alone, he cried himself to sleep, missing the sound of her voice, the blue of her eyes, the touch of her hand. His heart was heavy with his undying love for her and he hoped that with time his heart would be free again. It just had to be this way. She was married to another man and raising their child with him and it just killed him to see it. He tried being mature about it. He tried burying his pain. He tried to stop loving her. But he couldn't. She was so much a part of him, so much a part of his life. She was everything, and that was why he had to remove himself from the situation lest his unrequited love drive him insane. One day he would meet up with her again, when his heart had distance and time had healed his pain. But from how he felt these last five days without her, he wondered if that day would ever come. Scully had cried every day since Mulder had left. She hid her tears from Doggett, but he knew and tried to give her comfort. He had told her that had he been in Mulder's shoes, he would have done the same thing. Scully understood his leaving on an intellectual level, but her heart was much louder than her brain in this matter and it simply couldn't accept that he was gone. She had finally gotten him back in her life, just to have pushed him away. She didn't regret marrying Doggett. He was the strongest and most selfless man she had ever met. His love for her was so profound and complete. A day did not go by where he didn't tell her how much he loved her. And she loved him, more than anyone, other than Katie. But she loved Mulder too, and that was a love she would carry in her heart forever. Every time she looked at Katie she saw him, and her heart wept in loss. xxxxxxxxxx On the sixth day of his journey, Mulder decided he had put enough space between him and the love of his life. He was looking for a shelter where he could spend the next few days in peace when a sound caught his attention. Ever cautious, he followed the direction of the sound quietly, keeping a watchful eye on his surroundings. "Help!" He distinctly heard a woman cry for help. Warily he approached a cliff from where her voice came. He walked to the edge of the cliff and looked down its steep, unforgiving slope. A couple pebbles fell over the edge and disappeared into the nothingness below. About twelve feet down a woman was hugging the cliff, standing on a tiny ledge that barely accommodated her feet. There was no way she could get back to the top on her own. "Help!" She cried again, panic in her voice. Guarded, Mulder spoke, "I'll help you if you can prove to me you are not an alien." The sudden sound of his voice shocked her. She had not thought that anyone would hear her. "Oh, please, sir, help me! I am not an alien! I am human! Please help me!" "Show me the back of your neck," Mulder demanded not trusting her. She bent her head down giving Mulder a clear view. He saw no bony protrusions, the telltale sign of an alien being. "Okay. Just hang on and I'll get something to pull you up with," Mulder said quickly. "Please hurry!" She said with a fear-riddled voice. "I can't hold on much longer!" "I'll be back soon, I promise," Mulder said and dashed away. He looked around until he finally found a branch that he hoped would be strong enough and long enough to pull her up with. Running back to the cliff's edge he yelled to her, "I'm going to lower a branch down to you. Grab it and hold on to it and I will pull you up." He prayed he'd be able to do this. He was strong, but with no help and the angle that the branch would have to be at, he was going to need a half- miracle in the very least. Luckily the woman looked petite. He laid himself on the ground right at the cliff's edge and lowered the branch to her. "Grab it," he said. "Okay, I've got it," she said, wrapping her hands firmly around it. Slowly, using all his strength, Mulder pulled up on the branch. The weight was incredible and his muscles screamed at the effort. At one point he thought he couldn't do it anymore, but a sudden burst of energy shot through his body and somehow he managed to inch her up enough to where he could grab one of her hands. "Give me your other hand," he said through clenched teeth. She did as told and he grabbed it firmly. The branch dropped to the abyss below. Adrenaline pumping, he used the last remaining ounces of his strength and pulled her to safety. Panting, he lay exhausted in the dirt, muscles twitching and heart pounding. Then he crawled the couple feet to where she lay. She was trembling and the look in her eyes was one of fear mixed with relief and shock. Suddenly she flung herself into his arms and clung to him in a tight embrace. "Thank you so much!" She almost whimpered. "I thought I was going to die for sure. I owe you my life." He returned the embrace and gently caressed her back, trying to soothe her. " It's over. You are safe now." "Thank you, thank you," she kept repeating as hot tears ran down her cheeks, soaking Mulder's shirt. Several minutes passed and they just held each other. Finally she dried her tears and looked up at him, staring directly into his eyes. "I can't thank you enough. If there is anything I can do for you, anything I can get for you, it is yours. Just name it." She felt a great debt toward this kind stranger and wanted somehow to repay him for sparing her life. The only thing Mulder wanted was the only thing neither she nor anyone else could ever provide: Scully. He shook his head. "I am glad I was able to help you. There is nothing I want in return. Please don't feel indebted toward me." "I will always be indebted to you. If not now, then maybe one day in the future I can help you," she said sincerely. Mulder smiled and looked at the woman sitting before him. She was visibly shaken, but calm was slowly returning to her eyes. She was a beautiful woman with long golden- brown hair and large brown eyes, a petite figure, and glowing browned skin, tanned from living in the elements. When Mulder said nothing she decided to introduce herself. "My name is Megan." She held out her hand. Shaking her hand, Mulder said, "I'm Mulder." "Mulder? That's an unusual first name." "It's my last name, but I prefer it over my first name." She could see that if she asked, he probably would not tell her his first name, so she dropped it. On shaky legs she stood up then suddenly she felt woozy and all went black. xxxxxxxxxx Doggett was playing with Katie at the mouth of the cave when Scully came over and sat down next to them. He took her hand and together they stared out at the horizon. The sun would be setting soon and it hung low in the watercolor-blue sky. The few scattered clouds were tinted grey and pink and the sun cast a warm glow over the land. "How are you feeling, Sweetheart?" He asked. The morning sickness of this pregnancy was worse than during the first one and it definitely was not just limited to the morning. "Better right now," she said and leaned her head on his shoulder. Doggett gathered Katie and sat her between them and all three looked at the beauty of the heavens painted before them. Scully's hand rested on her still-flat stomach, lovingly stroking it. "If this baby is a boy, I want to name him after you." Doggett was touched at this seemingly out-of-the-blue statement. "Are you sure?" "I know the paternity of this baby is in question, but no matter what, you will be the only father he ever knows. I want him named after you, in honor of you, his father." She looked into his eyes as she spoke. He could see how much this meant to her. Doggett smiled and kissed her tenderly. "And what if the baby is a girl?" "I will leave the naming of our daughter to you," she said and drew him into another kiss. They sat some more, gazing at the horizon, feeling peace. Scully hoped Mulder was feeling at peace now too. He deserved that and so much more. xxxxxxxxxx Luckily Mulder was fast enough to break Megan's fall when she fainted. He carried her over to a rock protrusion that provided adequate shelter from the elements. When she didn't wake up in his arms he thought that it might have been many hours, even days since she had last eaten. He set her gently down on the ground and dug in his bag for some food. He found some roots and pieces of dried meat, but he didn't know how he was going to get her to eat them in her unconscious state. Instead he poured some water into her mouth and amazingly she swallowed it. It also brought her to. She awoke with a start and panic filled her eyes. Immediately, Mulder soothed her by saying, "It's okay, you're safe. You're safe." He took her in his arms again. Recognition and remembrance took the place of panic in her brown orbs and she calmed instantly in his embrace. "What happened?" She asked fuzzily. "You fainted," Mulder responded. "When was the last time you ate anything?" She thought about it for a while then said, "I think it was about 2 days ago, just before I fell onto that ledge." "You were there for two days!" Mulder was astounded. No wonder she was weak! Standing on that ledge for so long without food and water; the thought made him shudder. A true nightmare. She nodded. "I never thought I'd be leaving that ledge alive," she whispered. "I am so grateful to you." "I'm just glad I heard your cries for help. Here," he said, handing her some food and water, "you need to eat and drink. It will restore your strength." Hungrily she took the food from him and began eating. She was starved and the taste of the food in her mouth was like heaven. While she ate, Mulder built them a small fire. He finished just as the sun set and the cold air descended. This night was chillier than usual and they huddled together under a shared blanket as close to the fire as safely possible. xxxxxxxxxx The months passed quickly and although Scully still thought of Mulder often and hoped that one day soon he would return to her, she had learned to let him go. She had moved on with her life without Mulder and she knew he had to do the same thing. It was selfish for her to have tried to keep him here, especially since seeing her with Doggett caused his heart so much pain. She hoped that he had been able to free his heart and find peace by now. These days, Scully was back to making her main focus her precious little family and the baby on the way. Doggett sensed that Scully was now at peace with Mulder's decision to leave. He knew it was hard for her to accept his absence after struggling so hard to find him and save him from the aliens. She was about six months pregnant now and showing. Doggett loved feeling her stomach and the baby inside. It was the most special thing in the world to see life grow within her. Amazingly his love for her grew more and more with each passing day. He thought he couldn't have loved her more than on the day they married, but love is an extraordinary thing: it is limitless, and he lived that wonderful reality daily. Post-invasion life had become increasingly better. Doggett noticed that there were less and less alien scouts out patrolling for humans. In fact, he usually didn't see any for weeks at a time, when before he'd see one about every two or three days. Perhaps they thought that there were no humans left, that everyone had been converted into an alien. They also had learned to live off the land. They had hunting and gathering down to a science now and their daily routines became just that: routine instead of challenging. With the threat of aliens greatly reduced and the ease of day to day living less burdensome, life became harmonious again, something none of the remaining human population would have believed a year ago. But they missed life as it was before the invasion and wished that one day their children could grow up in an alien-free world. xxxxxxxxxx Much to Mulder's surprise, and now delight, he and Megan were still traveling together. After the rescue, they decided to hold off going their separate ways for a while since they were both traveling alone. That while quickly turned into several months. In that time they got to know each other quite well. Mulder told her of his life before his abduction, of his years at the FBI, his search for Samantha, and his search for the truth. What he did not mention, what was still too painful for him to mention, was his love for Scully. He referred to Scully as his partner, but nothing more. He also told her of his amazing rescue from the aliens' control and of how now he was starting life anew. Megan was shocked to hear that Mulder had at one time been under the aliens' influence and that a vaccine had cured him. She excitedly asked him for more details. "A vaccine cured you?" She asked. "Yes, I was very lucky that there was one available," Mulder said. He noticed her heightened interest on this topic. "You seem very interested in this." "You could say that. It has only been my husband's and my life's work." It was Mulder's turn to be shocked. One, that she was married and had not mentioned it, and two, and more importantly, that she knew anything at all about a vaccine against the aliens. "Go on," he prodded. "Well, it was all highly secretive. I guess it's okay to tell you about it now. My husband was a scientist and I am one as well. The government paid us to work on a vaccine that would cure anyone infected with the alien virus. The government was expecting an invasion, but unfortunately, they thought we had more time. The invasion came much sooner than they expected and we were only able to produce enough vaccine to inoculate about 10,000 people, and even then we weren't a hundred percent sure that it would work completely. But seeing you, I see it was a success afterall." "You knew all about the aliens wanting to invade, the government's part in it, and you were working on a vaccine to fight them?!" Mulder was incredulous at the information. "This is part of the truth I have been searching for most of my life!" "You were right on target, Mulder. You knew the truth, but the government had to deny it, keep it hidden." "Why?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "To avoid mass hysteria for one, but more importantly, to keep the knowledge of the vaccine from the aliens. It was our only line of defense if they attacked." "And they did and we lost," Mulder said dejected. "Unless--" she started. "Unless what?" Mulder's interest perked up again. "Unless we don't stop fighting." Mulder looked confused. "We don't have anything to fight them with. We are just a handful of humans. The aliens have converted all the rest of us and taken over the planet, I'm sure." "Where did the vaccine come from that was used to cure you?" She asked, disregarding his statements. Mulder thought of the price Scully paid to get her hands on that vaccine. The thought killed him. "It came from an evil bastard by the name of Alex Krycek. He charged an ultimately high price for it." Megan saw great pain in his eyes as he mentioned the price. She wanted to ask, but thought that this was not the time. "Where did he get it?" Mulder shook his head. "I have no idea." "I do. There is a chance that the lab that I worked at might not have been destroyed and maybe the vaccine is still there. If we could--" "Hold on, Megan! Do you know what you are saying here?" "Yes, and you're right: I don't have the guts to fight them. Not with the odds the way they are," she said defeated. Silence passed between them. Mulder wanted to trust this woman more than anything. She had mentioned her involvement with the development of the vaccine the moment he told her how he had survived the alien influence. But why hadn't she told him sooner and why had she never mentioned having a husband? He decided to ask some questions point blank. "Why didn't you tell me you are married? Where is your husband now?" She looked down, unable to meet his eyes. It was hard for her to talk about him, the pain was still so fresh and the guilt great. But she thought that since Mulder had been so open about his life she should be as well. She knew that he was not a man that trusted blindly or easily. "My husband did not survive the alien attack. He was captured while trying to divert the aliens, buying me precious time to escape. He gave up his life so that I would have a chance for survival! And I took it! I ran and didn't look back." Megan was weeping now, her conscious racked with guilt. Mulder's heart went out to her and he gathered her in his arms. "I'm sorry." "Don't you see? I should have fought them off with him. Instead I ran and left him to their mercy. He told me to go. He wanted me to go, but I feel so guilty that I did. I loved him so much!" Bitter tears fell from her eyes at the memory. "Megan, don't feel guilty. He wanted you to go, to be safe. You probably would have both died or been converted into aliens had you stayed and not run. Your husband must have loved you very much." Mulder tried to soothe her, but her tears kept on coming. He just held her, stroking her back until she calmed down. "I'm sorry. I had no right in asking you about him." She looked up at him with red-rimmed eyes. "No, I needed to tell you. I don't want there to be any secrets between us. Trust is everything. And I do trust you." "I agree: trust is everything," he said. Megan felt a certain relief in telling him about her husband and her guilt of taking the opportunity he gave her to save herself. But she could tell that she wasn't the only one that had held something back. Mulder was still holding something back; something very close to his heart that was causing him obvious emotional pain. Maybe one day he would be able to trust her with this painful burden. And maybe one day she could somehow help him with it. She so wanted a way to repay him for saving her. Megan was a sweet and nurturing woman. It was easy for her to show her feelings and she was not ashamed of them. Although she was strong in her own way, she was not as strong as Scully. When she was frightened she had no problem in finding comfort and safety in Mulder's arms. This show of feelings was something Mulder was not used to, but he gave of himself freely and was enjoying the closeness it brought. She gave as much as she took and Mulder learned to lean on her as well. He felt that an emotional bond was growing with this woman and with every passing day he was thinking about her more and more as thoughts of Scully became less frequent. One night, while eating dinner in front of a blazing fire, Megan watched Mulder's face closely. He did not notice her gaze for his eyes were fixed on the fire before him, his thoughts far away, wherever Scully was. He imagined her belly big with child and little Katie walking now. He imagined Doggett playing with Katie and touching Scully's belly with love, feeling the baby move within. He imagined all the things that Doggett had the privilege of doing with Scully and Katie and his heart ached. He wanted to be the man with those privileges. He wanted to be the one who made love to Scully every night and who helped her raise Katie. Megan saw the pain in his face and the despair and emptiness in his eyes. She wanted to help him, but how could she when he wouldn't open up to her? She scooted next to him and put her hand gently on his shoulder. He jerked as if the touch had brought him out of a trance. "What is it Mulder? What is it that puts so much pain in your eyes?" She asked lovingly. Mulder was silent for a long time. He sighed deeply. Finally he spoke in a whisper, "I lost my true love, my sole mate." His eyes stayed glued on the dancing fire. Its tongues lapped at the oxygen, cutting into the darkness and replacing it with hot light. Megan had suspected his pain stemmed from some sort of lost love. "I'm sorry, Mulder. Do you want to talk about it?" Again he was silent for a while then with another sigh he began. "My FBI partner, Scully, well she was, is, more to me than just a partner. I have loved her almost since the first time she walked into my office. And although I think she loved me too, I never told her of my love for her. I was just too scared that maybe she didn't feel that way about me. I didn't want to ruin what we already had. I trust her completely; she has always been my touchstone, my right hand. She grounded me and kept me sane in my search for the truth." "You never told her how you felt? She must have known," Megan said gently just above a whisper. "Actually, I did tell her once. But she didn't believe me. I was in the hospital at the time and she thought the painkillers I was on were doing the talking. In any case, I should have told her again. By the time I finally did, it was already too late. When the aliens took me, she searched for me for months. Then when the invasion happened she thought I was dead for sure. In the mean time she had fallen in love with her new partner. They are married now and are raising my daughter." "Your daughter?" Megan was surprised that he had a child. He had never mentioned her. "Yeah, that's another whole story, one I don't think I can talk about right now." Mulder's voice choked at the thought of Katie. He missed her so much! "I had to get away. I couldn't stay and watch that man in the role I so desperately want." "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice filled with empathy. She knew first hand how painful lost love was. Megan wrapped her arms around Mulder and he let her pull his head to her chest. She stroked his thick hair and the tears he had dammed up for months finally broke through the cracks and came flooding out. She rocked him gently in her arms and they sat like that until the flames died down to glowing embers. Slowly he raised his head up from its warm place on her chest and he looked deeply into her eyes. He saw that she shared his pain and knew she was no stranger to it herself. "Thank you, Megan. Amazingly, I feel a bit better now. It was good to get it out; I have been holding it inside for so long." "I'm glad you could open up to me about it. I hope you know that you can tell me anything," she said lovingly. Mulder nodded. "Let's get some sleep," she suggested softly. They lay down close to what was left of the fire, sharing the only blanket they had. Usually they did not touch when sleeping side by side like this, but this time Megan cautiously put her arms around Mulder, drawing her chest to his back. He did not reject her tender gesture and instead pulled her a little closer. Her touch brought some much needed comfort to his aching heart and he was able to fall asleep rather quickly. xxxxxxxxxx Morning came bringing bright sunshine and clear skies. "Good morning, Sweetheart," Doggett said gazing lovingly at his wife. She smiled and pulled him into a tantalizing kiss. "Umm, that was yummy," Doggett whispered grabbing her for more. They were almost undressed and riddled with desire when Katie toddled over to them, throwing herself over their writhing bodies. "Ma-ma, Da-da," she said and climbed up to their faces. Scully and Doggett looked at each other, disappointment in their eyes and sighs on their lips. Interrupted again! If they didn't know better, they would have been certain that Katie had radar for whenever her parents were in the mood. "Come here, Sweetie Pie," Doggett said capturing the little girl in his arms. He showered her face with kisses. Katie giggled. "Can you give Daddy a big kiss?" Katie leaned in trying to pucker her lips in a kiss. "Thank you," he said. "You are just the most kissable little girl in the world!" "Doesn't Mommy get one of those?" Scully asked Katie. Katie smiled and leaned in to kiss her mother. "Thank you. I agree with Daddy, you are the most kissable girl in the world!" They all giggled. Getting up out of bed, Doggett said, "I'm going to take a cold bath in the stream. You coming?" Scully shook her head. "Nah, I'll go later. I'm going to play with Katie some more." Doggett hesitated. He did not like leaving her alone, but she had been insisting on her independence more and more lately. She saw his hesitation, the same hesitation he had every time he left her, even if it was only for five minutes. "Go, John. We will be fine," she assured. "Okay. I'll be back very soon," he said, then gave her a quick kiss and ran out. Scully had just stood up when she hear footsteps at the mouth of the cave. "Forgot something, Honey?" "I think it's you who forgot to tell me something, Honey," a chilling voice said from inside the cave. Scully spun around at the voice, her hairs standing on end and terror in her eyes. It couldn't be, but it was. Krycek. The devil was still alive! "Get the hell out of here!" Scully exclaimed in the firmest voice she could muster. Katie clung to her leg at the sight of the stranger. "So when were you going to tell me about our baby?" He asked wickedly, coming closer. "This is not your baby! This is my baby. Mine and John's!" Scully covered her hand over her protruding stomach, fear making her body tremble. Krycek closed the distance between them instantly and before she knew it, his hand was firmly wrapped around her upper arm. With a diabolical stare that pierced through her eyes and invaded her soul, he threatened, "If I find out this baby is mine, I guarantee I will be back for it." "You will never touch my baby! Never!" Scully screamed in his face. His hand around her arm tightened, crushing her flesh to the bone and cutting off all circulation. "This baby will be mine and I will raise him!" He smiled evilly. Just then Krycek's body was torn away from Scully, and Doggett slammed his fist into his face, breaking his nose. Krycek was stunned. He had not planned on Doggett returning so soon. Doggett glared at his bloodied face and spoke in a firm, angry voice. "You will never threaten or come near my family again. And you will never touch this unborn child. If I ever see you again, I will kill you. That is a promise." Doggett was amazed at how even his voice was, because inside he was in a livid rage. Had Scully and Katie not been here, he surely would have killed him on the spot. He threw Krycek to the ground and the monster scrambled to his feet and high-tailed it out of the cave. Immediately Doggett went to Scully and took her in his arms. She was shaking uncontrollably and he held her tightly to his chest. Katie was still clinging to her leg and he stooped down and scooped her up in his arms as well. "He thinks this baby is his and he said he was going to take it from me and raise it," Scully said between sobs. "I will never let that happen," Doggett promised. And he meant it. He would die before he let that madman get to their baby. "But what if it is his baby?" Scully sobbed terrified. "It won't be. You are my wife and you are carrying our baby." Doggett held his two girls until both were soothed. He did not tell them of the fear he felt about the future now that he knew Krycek was alive. Krycek was a dangerous, evil man and he vowed that he would do anything to protect his family. xxxxxxxxxx Mulder couldn't get the thought of the vaccine out of his mind ever since Megan had mentioned it and her involvement with it. If only it still existed and they could find it, somehow mass produce it, inject it into the alien converts, and slowly but surely save more humans. If they had enough humans they could fight the aliens and hopefully win and take back the world. Perhaps it was an impossible dream to have Earth belong to the humans again, but Mulder wanted to try. And he needed, hell he wanted, Megan to help him. The more time he spent with her the more he felt that he could trust her. But would she be willing to try as well? Would she be brave enough? It definitely would be risky. He felt he had no right in asking her to help him in this dangerous venture but he felt so passionate about it, that this was the right thing to do, so he broached the subject that evening at dinner. "Megan, I've been thinking a lot about what you told me about the vaccine the other day. I know it is going to be risky, but I want to find that vaccine." A feeling of dread spread through Megan's body. She did not want Mulder to put his life in jeopardy for something that might not even exist anymore. "Mulder, no. It is too risky!" "But it is the only chance we have of taking back control of Earth!" Mulder was determined. Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes. "Please, Mulder, I can't lose you too!" Over these past several months that Megan and Mulder were traveling together, Megan was developing strong feelings for her rescuer. She hated to admit it to herself, since she had no idea if he even felt in the slightest like she did, but she was falling in love with him. She couldn't bear the thought of never seeing him again. "You won't lose me. I have every plan on coming back from this alive. Then hopefully you, or you and Scully, will be able to make more of the vaccine with the sample I bring back." Fear threatened to lace her voice but she forced it out. "Then I'm coming with you," she said just as determined. "No, Megan, it's best you wait for me to return. You are vital to this plan, if it is going to work." He did not want her risking her life for his quest. He had already caused Scully so much pain over the years with his quest for Samantha and the truth; he did not want to bring that to yet another woman. A woman he was starting to care a lot about. "I'm coming. You need me to lead you to the lab. And you need me to cover your back," she said firmly. If he was going to die, she would die with him. She would not let another man die trying to save the world. She would not be a coward again. "Besides, maybe this is how I can repay you for saving me." He looked directly into her eyes and saw her determination. He also saw her fear, even though the determination did a pretty good job of hiding it. She was right though; he did need her, in more ways than one. "Alright, but I don't want you doing this just to repay me. Like I said before, you owe me nothing." She owed him everything, but that was not the main reason for her decision to join him on this quest. She was falling in love with Mulder and she wanted to do whatever she could to protect him. "I'm not, that's only part of it," she said meeting his gaze. He saw something in those brown orbs of hers, something warm, giving, tender, something like--no, it couldn't be. He wondered what her other reasons for coming with him were, but he was actually too scared to ask. His heart wasn't ready for the answer yet. Not yet, but eventually. "Okay, let's start heading for the city tomorrow morning. It will probably take us a few days to get there." "Sounds good," she said. They left early the following morning and hiked toward the city for several days. The journey brought them increasingly closer to each other. During one of their lunch breaks, he told her of how he had come to be Katie's father and of the limited role he now played in her life. She listened intently and comforted him as best she could. Now that they had no more secrets between them, Mulder felt freer than he had in a long, long time. He was also feeling something else: an intense attraction to Megan and he found himself wondering several times a day what it would be like to kiss her. She was beautiful, that was obvious, but it was what was inside that really attracted him. She was so loving and open toward him, somehow always knowing how to make him feel at ease and good about himself. She always laughed at his jokes and had a great sense of humor herself, even in the face of the danger that awaited them. There always seemed to be a twinkle in her eye, a spark of life that radiated enthusiasm in even mundane daily tasks. He felt good around her and, yes, happy. Her presence in his life was slowly mending his broken heart, something he never thought possible. They were about a half a day's hike away from the outskirts of the city when upon rounding the edge of a mountain Mulder spotted an alien scout just a few yards away. Luckily the scout didn't see them, but he was headed in their direction. Quickly Mulder pulled Megan to his side and whispered, "Alien." Then his eyes searched the immediate area for a hiding spot. There was a large rock overhang a few feet away, but the squeeze would be tight and he wasn't sure if there was enough room for the both of them. But seeing no other option and with only seconds of time left, Mulder lead Megan to the spot and motioned for her to climb under it. He was right behind her and just as he feared it didn't cover both of their bodies entirely. Thinking fast, he had an idea. "Let me lay under you," he whispered softly. There was still room above Megan so she held her body up with her arms and Mulder slid right under her. Now they were like a sandwich, tightly pressed against each other and the rock and ground. Just then, boot-clad feet appeared in their line of vision. Both Mulder and Megan held their breaths, not wanting to make even the slightest of sounds. Their lives depended on it. The alien scout walked around the outside of their hiding place for several more moments, moments that felt like a lifetime. Finally he walked away. Megan and Mulder's hearts were beating wildly in fear and they finally allowed themselves to take deeper breaths. But they dared not move, lest the alien was still in the vicinity. Minutes passed and Megan's body began to tremble. Mulder put his arms around her as best he could given the tight circumstances. She lifted her head to look into his eyes. Even in the shade he could see the great fear they held. "I think we're safe. Let's just stay here a while longer to make sure he's far away," he said reassuringly. She nodded and laid her head back down in the crux of his neck. As the minutes ticked by the fear she was feeling was slowly being replaced by something else. The extreme physical closeness they were sharing was making Megan's body fill with desire. She could feel his hot breath on her neck and the touch of his fingers on her arms sent tingles of electricity up her spine. His heart was still beating rather quickly and with every beat her heart beat faster as well. Mulder's body was also reacting to the closeness. The weight of her body on his, the pressure of her breasts against his chest, the smell of her skin, and the heat radiating from her was building desire in his loins. When she shifted her weight, she inadvertently grazed his groin with her thigh and he had to think of the terror of being caught by aliens to keep his body from making him hard. He wasn't completely successful in repressing his growing desire though; for he felt his manhood twitch in his pants. God, he hoped she didn't feel it. She did feel it and raised her face to look in his eyes. Was his body just reacting involuntarily to the closeness, or did he actually have feelings for her? She searched his eyes for the answer and in the semi-darkness she thought she saw a glint of something other than lust. The desire in her eyes was clear and Mulder recognized it immediately. All he could think of at the moment was his great craving to kiss her. So he did. He pulled her head towards him and she met him half way, and as their lips touched their mouths melted into each other in a tangle of tongues, a caress of lips, and a breath of new life. She was sweet like melon and her taste made him yearn for more. He deepened the kiss, pulling her even closer, feeling her heart pound wildly next to his. She responded with equal fervor and gave herself to him completely. They parted, looking into each other's eyes. He saw his need clearly reflected in them and there was something else there as well, something he dared not put a name to yet. They kissed again, this time with even more passion and hunger. She could feel him rock hard beneath her and she wanted him as well, but they both knew that this was not the time and certainly not the place. They had to try and save the world first, at least take the first step in that direction. They parted, both panting softly, and smiled at each other. She ran her fingers tenderly though his hair thinking how absolutely gorgeous this man was in every way and how much she wanted him. Then a bit shyly and with embarrassment at the thoughts she was having, she broke their intense eye contact and whispered, "We better go. " Mulder was reluctant to move from this delicious position, but he agreed. "Yeah, we better. If we're lucky we might get to the city just after nightfall. Let me take a peek outside to make sure I don't see the alien." "Okay," she said holding herself up as he scooted out beneath her. She felt his erection rub against her leg as he moved away and her body stirred with excitement. Oh, God, she was falling hard for this man! "The coast is clear," he said and crawled out. She crawled out right after him and he took her hand to help her to her feet. They stared at each other for a moment with smiles on their faces. He gave her hand a squeeze and they continued their journey hand in hand. They reached the city late that night, the trip having taken a little longer than they had anticipated. But that was good, for they needed the cover of night for protection. They went over their plan again and were ready. "Before we go," Mulder said looking directly into Megan's eyes, "I just want to say," His voice trailed off, not knowing how to put his feelings into words. Megan sensed Mulder was not quite ready to tell her his feelings yet so she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him deeply. "That's for luck," she said and smiled brightly. He smiled back and they walk cautiously into the city together. The city felt eerie and looked surreal. Hiding in the shadows and with stealth movements they finally reached the lab. They had seen very few aliens out, maybe because it was so late and they were all hooked up to their green goop machines. The ones they did see, walked almost like robots and were devoid of most emotion. That was something to remember should they get caught. The lab appeared untouched and amazingly none of the doors were locked. Perhaps security was not needed in an alien world. With great caution they moved to the room that Megan had once worked in. Immediately she went to the place they had kept the vaccine. She looked inside and it was not there. Devastated she kept on looking, praying that they had just moved it. Then out of the corner of her eye, she saw a large wooden box under a desk. She looked in there and hit the jackpot. Excitedly she motioned for Mulder to come over and they stuffed their pockets with all the vials. They also grabbed some needles and syringes, and a small microscope and some fresh slides. They couldn't carry anymore and they quietly slipped out of the building. So far their plan was working without incident, but as soon as they were on the street they saw an alien coming towards them. Fear gripped their hearts and Megan wanted to run. "Say nothing and act like they do," Mulder instructed in a whisper. The alien approached them in even, calculated movements. His eyes were expressionless, yet he had a superficial smile. "It's late. Going home to recharge?" He asked almost mechanically. "Yes," Mulder said simply, trying hard not to show any emotion, especially not fear. "Good then. Goodbye," he said politely and walked away. "Goodbye," Mulder repeated in monotone and he and Megan headed in the opposite direction. As soon as the alien was out of sight they ran for the shadows and made their way back to the forest as fast as they could. Finally they reached the relative safety of the dark woods and stopped to catch their breaths. Megan trembled in fear and exhilaration and Mulder hugged her, but after only about a minute, Mulder felt the need to keep going deeper into the woods. He wanted to make sure they were out of danger before they really rested or even talked. Hours later, as dawn approached, Mulder finally felt safe enough to find a shelter for a few hours sleep. "We did it!" Mulder announced with excitement as they came to a stop. "Yes!" She beamed still on an adrenaline high. "I was frightened out of my mind though, especially when that alien came towards us! If you hadn't been with me I would have run and been captured for sure." He gathered her into his arms and she shed her dammed up tears of fright. "You did fine, Megan. We did it, you and I." "Yes," she said looking up into his gleaming eyes. He saw the tears on her face and dried them with his fingers and he suddenly felt very emotional towards her. "I want you to know, that I would do anything in my power to keep you safe and protected." She smiled radiantly at him. "I know you would, Mulder. I trust you completely." He returned her smile and said something he almost never said to another person, "I trust you too." They kissed tenderly and then settled down next to a large fallen tree and fell asleep in each other's arms. They hiked the entire next day, giving Mulder a lot of time to think about Megan. He had feelings for her, that was for sure. Deep feelings in fact. He loved being around her. She freed his spirit and brought out a more sensitive and emotional side of him. A side that he had kept buried most of his life. His mother had not been the most loving, nurturing person and he had learned to restrain his feelings and keep his emotions hidden. But Megan was just the opposite, bubbling with emotion and love. And she was not afraid to show it. He felt good in her company, wanted, needed and, yes, loved. She had sneaked into his heart and by the time he realized it, he was already deeply in love with her. That night, as they sat around the fire, Mulder turned to her and tried to speak what was in his heart. "Megan, I'm not really good at telling someone how I feel, but I want you to know that I am so grateful that you are in my life. Being around you, I feel--good, I feel--" Mulder couldn't finish his sentence; instead he just gazed deeply into her brown eyes. She gently placed her fingers over his lips as if to say he did not have to put those feelings into words. "Show me," she whispered, letting her fingers drop from his lips. The heat they left on his mouth stirred arousal throughout his body and he pulled her to him in a deep, passionate kiss. Fire shot through their veins as Mulder conveyed his love for her through the kiss. Her response conveyed the same message back to him and the kiss became intense, fierce, and needy as their hunger grew. Hands feverishly roaming each other's heated and impassioned bodies, they fell to the soft earth below them. They made love throughout the night, uninhibited and free, then finally slept snuggled in each other's arms in the early morning, satiated and at peace. Upon waking, Mulder gazed at the beauty sleeping next to him. His heart was filled with so much love and his soul was overjoyed. She stirred and opened her eyes to find him looking at her. Instantly she smiled. "I love you," he said, speaking his heart. Her smile brightened and she responded, "I love you too." They kissed and made love again, sealing their spoken words. xxxxxxxxxx Scully was in the final stages of labor. Katie was being taken care of by the Gunmen in their shelter and Doggett was at Scully's side helping her through each contraction. The pain was almost unbearable and Scully squeezed Doggett's hand practically to the breaking point as she road out her latest contraction. "I want to push," she said sweat dripping from her brow. The urge was so great. "Let me check," Doggett said. It looked like she had dilated enough and he gave her the go-ahead. She clenched down and pushed as Doggett counted off the seconds. "--nine, ten," he said. "Again!" She sucked in more air then bore down again. Her body shook with the effort and her lungs screamed for air, but she pushed for the full ten seconds yet again. She had been doing this for the last half hour and she was utterly exhausted. At this point all she wanted was to get the baby out. "Push!" He said and watched as the baby's head appeared. "I see him! Push!" "I can't!" she exclaimed completely wiped out. He crawled back up to her face and looked into her tired eyes. "You can do it, Dana. His head is right there. One or two more pushes and you're done." He kissed her. She smiled, "Okay." She pushed as hard as she could, the pain intense, then felt the baby slip out of her. "His head is out!" Doggett exclaimed excitedly. "Just one more push." She pushed again using the last remaining shreds of energy within her and the baby slid out in a warm wash. "It's a boy!" Doggett cried in exhilaration. "A boy!" He laid the wailing baby on Scully's deflated stomach. "A boy!" Scully repeated. Tears streamed down her cheeks in intense joy. With big smiles the parents studied every part of their brand new baby, counting fingers and toes and kissing him on his tiny face. "Welcome to the world, Jonathan William Doggett," Scully said happily. Doggett looked passionately into Scully's eyes. "Thank you, Dana. Thank you for making me a father again. I love you so much!" With that he kissed her deeply, conveying his intense and endless love for her. "I love you," Scully said with great emotion. They kissed again. Doggett cut the umbilical cord then cleaned the baby up with warm water. Laying little Johnny back on his mother's tummy, the baby found her breast and began suckling. Holding Scully in his arms, Doggett and Scully studied him again, not able to take their eyes off of their little miracle. "He's so beautiful, so perfect," she said in awe. "Perfect," Doggett repeated in full agreement. "You know what?" Scully said, suddenly realizing something, "I think he has your ears." Doggett looked at them more closely seeing that they did look just like his; they stood off in the trademark Doggett manner. "You're right! We created this perfect little baby. You and I!" Doggett said elated with a smile that lit up the whole cave. "Created out of love, not rape," Scully said relieved. Although she would have loved this child just as much, she was thrilled it was not Krycek's. "Oh, Dana," Doggett said. He took her in his arms and together they wept in joy, relief, thankfulness, and love. *** The seasons changed from spring to summer to fall. Johnny looked more and more like his father every day and the threat of Krycek returning for the baby became increasingly less. The human community that loosely traveled together was always talking about how much Johnny and Doggett looked alike. Almost a spitting image, they said. Besides the trademark ears, Johnny also shared the intense, sharp, Caribbean-blue eyes of his father as well as his chiseled chin. Scully and Doggett hoped that somehow this talk would find Krycek's ears and that he would never show his face around them again. Peace once again prevailed in the Doggett household and life was good. But peace was transitory. Krycek had heard the rumors of how Scully's baby looked just like Doggett. But he didn't believe it. Perhaps their friends spread these rumors to try and keep him away. He trusted no one and no one was going to keep him away from his own flesh and blood if that was what Johnny indeed was. Krycek devised a plan that would allow him to kidnap the baby without Scully and Doggett catching him. He remembered Doggett's last warning and he knew he meant it. Krycek had watched the Doggett family for several days, paying close attention to their daily rituals. He noticed that every morning and every afternoon Doggett would go to the river to fetch water. On one of these afternoons, Krycek watched Doggett carefully. After he had filled his basket with water, Krycek set off a little device that he had conceived that caused a loud noise. As Doggett left the basket at the river's side and went to investigate what had caused the sound, Krycek quickly slithered to the basket of water and poured in some finely ground pills. Mission completed, he crept back to his hiding spot and waited until sundown. The sun had just set and Krycek was waiting patiently for his plan to unfold. He was eager to hold what he hoped was his son in his arms. The baby would become his perfect pupil and follow right in his evil footsteps. By the time the heavens were pitch black he presumed the drugs had taken effect and made his way to the Doggett cave. Upon entering, he saw the sleeping figures of Doggett and Scully silhouetted against a dying fire. They were out cold for neither moved in the slightest bit and Krycek smiled wickedly as he crept up to where little Johnny was sleeping. The baby let out a cry as Krycek picked him up, but he did not worry for even just one glass of the tainted water would keep a person knocked out for several hours. He put the baby down again and carefully wrapped him in a blanket as he let out another cry. From what seemed like a faraway distance Doggett heard Johnny's cries. It was a great effort for him to open his eyes and when he finally did he could only make out fuzzy shadows. His head ached and it was a struggle for him to shake off his extreme fatigue. But he sensed danger and forced his eyes to somewhat focus on a figure standing above the baby. The figure was not Scully and panic set in Doggett's heart. Using all his strength and with the help of the adrenaline rushing through his veins Doggett stood up and pounced on the unfamiliar figure. Although Krycek was taken off guard by the attack, he was easily able to fight Doggett off. The knock out drug that Doggett had unknowingly consumed was still in his system but wearing off quickly. Krycek punched Doggett in the face and he clumsily fell to the ground. Disoriented but knowing that Johnny was in grave danger, Doggett grabbed at Krycek's feet, as he was about to pick up the baby, causing him to fall flat on his back with a thud. Running strictly on adrenaline he was able to pin Krycek to the ground. It was then that he first saw who the intruder actually was. "Krycek! Just can't leave us alone, can you, you evil bastard?! Well, this is the last time you'll ever threaten my family!" Doggett said in a fury. Using all his strength he wrapped his hands around Krycek's neck and pressed. Krycek struggled to free his throat from Doggett's iron grip. Gasping for air he clawed blindly at Doggett's face, but he wouldn't let go. His struggles became weaker and weaker as the lack of oxygen shut his body down. Consciousness left him. Doggett noticed his struggles had ceased but his anger and fear made Doggett fulfill the promise he had made to Krycek on their last meeting. When Doggett was certain the devil beneath him was dead, he released his hands from Krycek's throat and dragged him outside into the night. Hours later Doggett returned to the cave where his family slept peacefully. He was covered in dirt and sweat and his face was bruised and bloodied from the blow Krycek had dealt him. He had killed and buried the bastard and although he did it to protect his family from that monster's evil, he felt pangs of guilt. Not since the invasion had he killed another human being. And before then it was only as an FBI agent or as a cop. That was just part of the job, part of his duty to protect others as well as himself, but somehow it felt different in this post-colonization world. It should be the humans against the aliens, not human against human. But he had to protect his family. Krycek would have been a constant threat to his loved ones if Doggett hadn't made good on his threat and killed the evil bastard. Scully awoke groggily as Doggett just stood in the middle of the cave feeling the weight of his actions. Through the clearing haze that seemed to cover Scully's eyes she saw her husband standing completely still. His eyes were fixed on the ground and his clothes and body were covered with dirt. Alarmed, she jumped to her feet just to fall dizzily back onto her bed. What was wrong with her? She couldn't imagine why she felt so weird and groggy. "John," she said trying to get up again, this time much more slowly. He did not answer her and finally she was able to walk to him. As if coming out of a trance, he finally noticed her presence and gathered her into his arms holding her so tightly it felt like he was holding on for dear life. "I killed Krycek," he said. "He was here?" She asked in fear. "What happened?" He loosened his hug and looked into her eyes. "He came for Johnny. I think he must have drugged us somehow, because when I heard Johnny's cries I could barely get myself up. I felt very disoriented and my limbs felt so heavy, but somehow I managed to tackle Krycek to the floor. I strangled him." Doggett searched Scully's eyes carefully for disapproval, judgment, shock, or hatred toward him for what he had done. He couldn't bare loosing Scully's trust and love over his defensive act of killing Krycek. But he saw none of that in her eyes. Instead he saw understanding, relief, and love. "Oh, John. Thank you for protecting us! None of us were safe with that madman on the loose. Now I can live each day without constantly looking over my shoulder in fear, thinking Krycek will suddenly appear and take Johnny," she said in great relief. "Then why do I feel guilty?" He asked. Her heart went out to him. "Because you are the most decent and ethical person I have ever met. In this world there are no badges to stand behind but your action was just as just as any other life you have taken serving the badge. You protected us and I am eternally grateful." She looked deeply into his eyes. "I love you, John." He fell into her arms relieved that she did not see him as a cold-blooded killer, but as a protector, a savior. "I love you too, Dana. You and the kids are everything to me," he said with deep emotion. She looked him square in the eyes and said, "You are everything to me." Then she kissed him, conveying her undying love and trust to the man that had only brought her infinite happiness, love, and peace. xxxxxxxxxx Life was good for Mulder and Megan. They were inseparable and were falling more deeply in love every day. Their bond was strong, passionate, and complete. Mulder felt truly free and happy for the first time in his life. The love he shared with Megan was honest, open, and unhindered, yet intense, needy, and all encompassing. It filled the void that had been in his heart for so long and erased the pain that had eaten away at his soul. She was like a miracle to him. To be loved by her was pure joy. Mulder decided he was ready to face the world he left behind again. With Megan at his side and the vaccine in hand, he roamed the forests and mountains, asking humans he'd meet on the way where they had last seen Scully and her family. Finally about a year after Mulder had left Scully, he was back, free and with a new quest. Mulder slowly entered the cave that the others had said was the Doggett house, while Megan waited outside. She wanted to give Mulder some private time for the initial reunion. She knew what this meant for him. She knew what Scully meant to him and she respected it, secure in their love for each other. "Anyone home?" Mulder said, looking around. Scully's head snapped up at the sound of the familiar voice. Seeing Mulder, she dropped what she was doing and ran into his arms. "Mulder! You've come back!" She exclaimed barely able to believe that he was really there. She held him tight, praying that this was not just some wonderful dream but reality. And when he squeezed her back and wouldn't let go, she knew he was real. "I've missed you so much!" She said, tears running down her face. "I've missed you too, Scully. More than you'll ever know," he whispered in her ear. He pulled back, wanting to look into her beautiful face again, something he hadn't done in over a year. Her cheeks were wet from tears, but her face shined with a radiating smile. She was still so beautiful, just like he remembered her. He wiped the tears from her skin as she ran her fingers over his face, still in disbelief that he was actually standing right in front of her. "Oh, Mulder!" She was barely able to croak out. Her overflowing emotions rendered her practically speechless. She kissed him softly on the lips and they stayed like that for several moments, just relishing each other's presence and touch. "I promised you I'd be back one day," he said, looking deeply into her eyes. "You were always in my thoughts." "And you in mine. I prayed for your safety every night," she said, and then added, "And I prayed for your heart to mend." She held his gaze, searching. He smiled. "It has. I never thought it would be possible, but it has. I still love you, Scully and I always will, but I have found someone who can return my love and I've never been happier. I'd like you to meet her." "Megan," he called out and a moment later Megan walked into the cave. He walked over to her, lovingly putting his arm around her waist. "Scully, this is Megan. Megan, this is Scully," he introduced. The women shook hands. "It is so wonderful to finally meet you, Scully. I have heard so much about you." "Please call me Dana. It is a pleasure to meet you too." "Dana, Mulder never mentioned your first name. This last name thing is a big mystery to me," she said with a smile. Scully returned the smile, then laughed. "Mulder's not too big on first names." She looked back from Megan to Mulder and back again. The way he was holding her, the way she leaned into him, the ease in which they just were; it told her how much in love the two of them were. "Thank you for making Mulder so happy. You must be a very special woman," Scully said sincerely. Mulder and Megan both smiled. "She is a very special woman. And I love her very much," Mulder said tenderly, looking into Megan's eyes. Megan blushed. Just then Doggett walked in with Katie in tow. "Mulder, is that you?" Doggett asked in surprise. "Hi, Doggett. Yeah, I'm back," Mulder said. The two men shook hands. "Glad to see you alive and well," Doggett said smiling. Then he turned his attention to Megan. "I'm John. Nice to meet you," "Likewise. I'm Megan," she said taking his hand. Mulder was staring at the toddler at Doggett's side. Her little arms were wrapped tightly around his leg. Mulder kneeled down to her level and said in a voice heavy with emotion, "This must be Katie." "Yes," Scully said crouching down to her daughter as well. "Katie, this is Uncle Mulder. Do you remember him?" The little girl shook her head side to side. Mulder blinked back the tears in his eyes. He couldn't believe how much she had grown! The last time he had seen her she was a mere baby not even able to crawl. Now she was walking! "We used to play together when you were just a baby, Katie," he said. "We'll get to know each other again because I plan on staying around." Scully smiled brightly at that. Mulder was staying! How happy that made her! "Daddy, Daddy! Want up!" Katie said. Doggett reached down and picked her up. Mulder could see how attached she was to Doggett and a pang of jealousy shot through his body. He vowed to never leave Katie again. He would be the best uncle she ever had and he would be a part of her life from now on. A cry from the back of the cave broke up the reunion. "There is someone else you have to meet," Scully said and ran to gather the baby. "This is Johnny," she said handing the baby to Mulder. He took him carefully and gazed at his tiny face. "He is beautiful. And it's obvious who his father is!" Mulder said, giving Scully a knowing and relieved smile. He had so hoped the baby would turn out to be Doggett's. And by the looks of this perfect little angel in his arms, his prayers had been answered. Scully and Doggett both smiled. "May I hold him?" Megan asked. "Of course," Scully said as Mulder put the baby in Megan's arms. "Oh, it feels so good to hold a baby!" Megan remarked in awe. "He truly is beautiful." "Maybe we can have one of our own one day, Megan," Mulder said, looking straight into her eyes with great love. She smiled a glowing smile and said, "I would love that." They kissed as Scully and Doggett watched. "Oh, before I forget, I have some excellent news about the future of our world," Mulder started excitedly. "Megan and I were able to retrieve a lot of the anti-alien vaccine. The same one you got for me, Scully. Megan was working on developing the vaccine before the invasion and with your help, Scully, we were hoping to be able to make enough of it to inoculate a great portion of the alien-convert population to make them human again. Then we have a chance to fight the aliens and hopefully, eventually, win back our Earth. I will fill you in on all the detail, but I need to know, are you in on this? Will you be a part of the fight?" Doggett and Scully looked at each other and in unison said, "Of course!" To have the planet back, to live in peace again and to have Katie and Johnny grow up in a world of humans not aliens was of utmost importance. Doggett, Scully, Mulder, and Megan had endured in a post- alien-colonization world, which, against all odds, brought love and made life. Love, family, friendship, and the weapon to fight the aliens was all they needed to survive. And the thought that one day the Earth would be theirs again, brought something else just as vital: hope. THE END Epilogue: In the weeks that followed, Scully and Megan worked diligently on producing more of the anti-alien vaccine. Together, using their combined scientific knowledge, they were able to produce enough to inoculate most of Washington DC. During this time the women got to know each other well and became close friends. Mulder was thrilled that the two women he loved most in the world got along so well. Now that he had accepted that Scully would never be more than a friend and that he now had a true love of his own in Megan, Mulder and Doggett became friends as well. Mulder saw what a good man Doggett was to Scully and how much he loved her. The four of them, with Katie and Johnny, became like a family. When they finally had created enough of the vaccine they banded together as many humans as possible to help fight the aliens. After weeks of planning their attack, and with the help of the Gunmen's computer and tactical expertise, the human team was ready to fight for the planet. They attacked late one evening while most of the aliens were in their homes connected to their recharging goop machines. Each human was armed with many doses of the vaccine and they inoculated numerous alien-converts. The alien- converts then turned back into humans and helped fight the war. Among the people saved were Walter Skinner, Monica Reyes, and Margaret Scully. Mrs. Scully was surprised to find her daughter now a wife and a mother of two children. She was also surprised that a man other than Mulder was her husband. She had always thought the two of them shared a special love, which they did, and that love would live forever in friendship. But when she saw how happy Doggett made her daughter and what a wonderful man and father he was, she saw them as the perfect match. She delighted in her role as grandmother and often gave Scully and Doggett time alone just for the two of them. Mrs. Scully still thought of Mulder like a son and highly approved of his relationship with Megan. She thought Megan was a lovely person, just the type to draw Mulder out of his shell. She lavished so much love on him, he beamed. Skinner and Reyes were also shocked at how much had changed during the time they were under the aliens' influence. But they were happy for their friends and were actually starting to think of each other in a new light. A romantic attraction was growing between the two. Unfortunately, Megan's husband was never found. Perhaps he was killed instead of converted. They would never know. But she thanked him every day for the life he gave her, the one with him and now the one with Mulder. To have loved so intensely twice in a lifetime was a blessing and a gift. The humans were turning out to be a stronger adversary to the aliens than they had imagined. The Gunmen managed to damage the aliens' core computer system and also introduced the vaccine into the main supply of alien goop. This in turn transformed many more aliens back into humans until only the original invading aliens were left. After about six months of fighting the humans had the upper hand and finally the few remaining aliens left the earth and fled into outer space. The humans had won the war and had won the planet back. Earth was home again only to humans, a victory for all of mankind. Author's Notes: If you actually read all 3 parts of my story, thank you so much! I hope you enjoyed it. I loved writing this story. It turned out so much longer than I originally intended, but I think (hope) it turned out well. I would love to hear your feedback!