Flight into Egypt 7:  Going Home

Author:  Vickie Moseley

                     Going Home:  Chapter 3  Waiting for Charlie

.

Maggie Scully residence

June 1, 2005

8:15 am

Mulder awoke to find Scully wrapped in his arms and something warm cuddled against his back.  Turning so he could look over his shoulder, he found that William had migrated from his cot by the window and was now sleeping soundly in his parents' bed.  From her vantage point in the playpen, Missy smiled up at him and tossed her stuffed rabbit, just missing him.  Sammi was still sleeping peacefully in the crib that blocked the closet door. 

Mulder lay there a few minutes, trying to figure out the best escape route that would wake the fewest number of individuals currently sharing his sleeping space.  He opted for waking the one least likely to demand he go down and make breakfast. 

"Scully," he whispered in her ear.  "Scully, can you move over a little, love.  I'm stuck." 

A muffled grunt, and her reaction was to stuff the pillow more firmly under her cheek and turn so her back was now toward him.  For good measure, she scooted over a little more so that her bottom was nudging his stomach. 

"Scully, it's an emergency," he whispered.  "Bathroom," he added, hoping that would cause the desired effect. 

She turned over again, this time on her stomach, but he caught her shoulders shaking and knew he'd been had.  

"You've been awake all along," he accused as she finally slid over so that he could crawl over her and out of the bed. 

"You're just too easy, sweetheart," she said, not bothering to stifle her giggles. 

"Mamama!" shouted Missy and soon another honey blond head popped up in the nearby crib.  "Da-da-da-da-da!" echoed Sammi. 

"Mommy, I'm hungry," moaned William as he felt the mattress move and his personal bedwarmer leave the premises.  "What's for breakfast?" 

Mulder returned quickly from his mission with the room down the hall and scooped up both girls, much to their delight.  "Let's go downstairs and see what Gramma Maggie has in the cupboard.  I bet we'll find something to eat," he told William. 

"Make coffee?" Scully requested as she trudged off toward the bathroom. 

"If it's not already made.  You get your caffeine addiction honestly, Scully.  I've noticed your mom has the same problem." 

In truth, the coffee maker was just finishing its cycle as Mulder carried the girls down the steps with Will bringing up the rear.  Maggie was at the counter, buttering an English muffin while Tara was seated at the dinette with a blanket modestly covering most of her upper body.  Mulder recognized the fashion statement and knew a very young lady was already getting 'breakfast' under the cover of the blanket. 

"Gramma, what's for breakfast?" Will asked loudly and Mulder cringed.  

"Will, don't startle the baby," he said quietly, pointing to Tara and the blanket. 

Will immediately turned to look at his aunt and his expression changed to one of awe and understanding.  "Sorry, Auntie Tara.  Are you feeding Baby Julia mommy milk?" 

Tara grinned.  "Yes, William, that's all she can eat right now." 

"I know.  Missy and Sammi used to drink mommy milk all the time but now they can eat Cheerios, like me," he said seriously. 

"I bet they like that," Tara said, trying not to chuckle. 

"Well look what Grandma happens to have in the cupboard," Maggie said, holding the cabinet door so that William could see what was inside. 

"Cheerios!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands. 

"Want to help me get the bowls and spoons?" Maggie asked. 

"Sure, I'm a good helper," he told her and quickly pushed Maggie's step stool over to the cabinet, counting out the bowls.  "Daddy, do you want Cheerios?" 

"Sure, buddy.  I'll have Cheerios this morning." 

"What about Mommy?" 

"I'm betting she'll want one of those English muffins your Gramma has there." 

"I'll have some Cheerios, William, if there's enough," Tara chimed in. 

"Oh, I have a whole unopened box if we go through this one," Maggie assured her daughter-in-law.  

Will dutifully counted out enough bowls and carried them to the table, where Maggie had already deposited the requisite number of spoons.  Soon, Mulder had a handful of dry cereal placed on each of the twin's high chair trays, with a sippy cup of milk, and Will, he and Tara were eating cereal from the bowls.  Maggie smiled at them all. 

"I'm starving!" came the sound from the doorway.  Matthew Scully walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table.  "Are those Cheerios?" he asked, turning up his nose. 

"I have other cereal here, Matty.  What would you like?" Maggie asked, although she was already reaching into the cabinet for another box. 

"Raisin bran," the young boy said with a firm shake of his head. 

"Just like your father," Maggie said with a wink to Tara. 

"You'd think all that bran would help your father's disposition," Tara muttered under her breath, with a quick glance over at Mulder before she returned to eating her breakfast one handed. 

Mulder dipped his head in acknowledgement of an ally, but didn't say a word. 

Scully was the next to surface, freshly showered and dressed.  She helped herself to coffee and one of the muffins, dropping a few more pieces of cereal on Missy's tray when the baby had started to reach for her brother's bowl. 

"Morning Mom, Tara, family," she said with a wink and smile to Mulder as she reached past him to ruffle their son's hair.  She pulled up a chair next to her partner and sat down.  "What's on the agenda today, Mom?" 

"Well, Charlie and Karen's plane doesn't get in until 4:30, so I thought we could go over to the new outlet mall and check out the sidewalk sales." 

"They have 'another' mall here, Daddy?" Will exclaimed, wide eyed. 

Mulder stifled a laugh at Tara's confused expression.  "Will and I took in the Capitol Mall yesterday with our old boss, Walter." 

"This is a different mall, Will," Maggie assured the little boy.  "Like the one in Helena that you took me to when I visited you last year.  It has toy stores and book stores and stores where I can buy you and your sisters new clothes." 

Now it was Mulder's turn to look confused.  Scully placed her hand on his forearm.  "Mom wants a family portrait.  She's hoping we can find matching outfits for the kids.  At least the little ones.  I don't know if Ben and Nate are willing to go along with the idea." 

"It would be fun if we could get matching polo shirts for the adults.   For my Dad's birthday last year my brothers and their wives and Bill and I had our pictures taken with matching shirts.  It turned out really nice," Tara said happily. 

Mulder chewed on his lip a moment, wondering where this strange custom might have come from but Scully was pressing her heel onto the top of his foot and he chose to refrain from making a comment. 

"I have the appointment set up with the photography studio for next Monday at 1 pm.  They promised it wouldn't take more than an hour.  I told them we have small children in the party and they said they had the perfect photographer for working with kids.  I've seen her work and it's really fantastic," Maggie said happily. 

"Next Monday at one.  OK, I think we can handle that," Mulder said, silently dreading the day.  It had been torturous enough having just the five of them sit for a portrait at Christmas, he didn't want to see the chaos that having five additional adults, an infant, a young boy and two teenagers would invoke. 

"Did Walter say when we could move in," Scully asked as she headed for another cup of coffee. 

"I still don't see why you can't all stay here," Maggie groused from her seat at the table. 

"Mom, at Walter's we can have a room to ourselves and we won't be eating all your food.  Besides, by the time Charlie, Karen and the boys get here, you'll be glad we're not underfoot as well." 

"You are not underfoot, Dana," Maggie said firmly.  "I like having you all here." 

"We will be here a lot, Mom.  We just won't be sleeping here.  And with the current bed situation, I think that's a good thing.  Anyway, what did he say, Mulder?" 

"He gave me the key, said we could head over any time we want.  He's alerted the doorman to expect us in the next day or two.  I don't see why we can't go over this evening after dinner." 

"That soon?" Maggie asked, frowning. 

"Mom," Dana replied, an eyebrow giving fair warning that the matter was not up for discussion. 

"Let's get the kids ready and we can take on that mall," Tara suggested helpfully.  Mulder shot her a smile.  Tara seemed to be the perpetual peacemaker.  Since she'd been a part of the family longer than he had, he respected her ability to put quarreling parties at ease. 

"Yes, I think that's a good idea.  Fox, do you want to join us?" Maggie offered. 

Mulder immediately took on his panic look and Scully kicked his leg and snickered at him.  "Mom, I think Mulder wants a day to just lounge around the house, don't you?" 

"That sounds really nice," he admitted. 

"Well, Bill will probably sleep until 10 or so, so it should be quiet here," Tara said and Mulder couldn't decide if she was giving him a 'heads-up' warning or just dispensing information. 

"I'll remember to be real quiet," Mulder assured her and she smiled and nodded. 

Even with three women working full speed, it still took about an hour to get everyone out the door.  Mulder sighed in relief as he heard the tires on the minivan pull out of the driveway.  He got up and poured another cup of coffee and sat down at the table to read the Washington Post for the first time in almost 5 years. 

After reading the paper, Mulder took his coffee outside to the patio and just sat in the sunshine.  He itched to go fire up Maggie's computer, the one he and Scully had given her for Christmas so she could receive the countless photos and emails that Scully sent her to help her feel in touch with the family in Montana.  But the computer was in the office that had once belonged to Scully's father and Mulder knew instinctively that Bill would hit the ceiling if he found his sister's partner messing with any of Captain Scully's personal effects.  It was better just to enjoy the warmth and humidity that was a summer morning in Baltimore. 

He'd dozed off until he heard the back screen door slam.  Sitting up, he saw Bill looking around blearily, coffee cup firmly in his right hand, paper in his left. 

"Oh, I thought everyone left," Bill said dryly. 

"Not everyone," Mulder replied.  "Your mom, Tara and Dana took the kids shopping for clothes."  He made a point to call his partner Dana around her family but it still seemed like he was referring to someone else. 

"Yeah, Tara said something about a family portrait," Bill huffed as he settled in at the patio table and spread out the newspaper.  "That'll be a cluster-fuck if there ever was one," he growled. 

"Your mom searched for a photographer that's good with kids," Mulder said, mentally kicking himself for continuing the conversation.  He'd promised Scully he would give Bill a wide berth and here he was, in direct engagement.  She'd kill him if she found out. 

"Mom means well.  We tried something like this a couple of years ago, when Matt was a toddler.  Just Charlie, Karen, the boys and Tara, Matty and me.  Of course, at the time we thought we were the only kids left."  Bill looked over at Mulder and tilted his head, waiting for a reaction. 

"Well, I think I'm going up to take a shower," Mulder said suddenly and left faster than might be considered polite. 

When Scully arrived back at the house, a little past noon, she found Mulder in the bedroom on the bed, reading an old romance novel.  She held back her laugh as she sat down beside him. 

"Mulder, you keep unfolding like a flower," she teased as she pulled the book from his hands. 

"I was hiding.  It was the only form of entertainment available in this room," he said, pulling her down for a kiss.  After a moment, he noticed she was alone.  "Where are the kids?" 

"Downstairs.  The girls are in the playpen in the family room and Will is helping Mom and Tara make lunch." 

"Peanut butter and jelly?" Mulder grimaced. 

"There's lunch meat for those of us with more refined tastes," Scully assured him.  "Why didn't you just turn on the TV in the family room?" 

"Bill was down there.  I thought it might be safer up here," he admitted. 

Scully stood up and pulled him by the hand to his feet.  "Don't let Bill bully you around, Mulder.  You have every right to be here." 

"Not in his opinion," Mulder replied.  "Besides, why antagonize the guy?  We're only staying here till this evening, I figured I'd stay out of his way and maybe we can avoid any 'sorry son of a bitch' declarations for a while.  Or at the very least, postpone them." 

"You aren't the only one he does this to," she said, hugging him for a moment.  She looked up at his face.  "It's probably the main reason I refuse to call William by the nickname Bill." 

Mulder shot her a confused look. 

"It's too close to what we called our beloved older brother behind his back:  Bully.  Oh, yes, Bill has a long history of family oppression and I'm getting just a little tired of it." 

"And here I thought I was the only member of this partnership to have a dysfunctional childhood," he teased back. 

"It wasn't dysfunctional, Mulder.  It was fairly common back then.  But Bill never quite grew out of that stage."  She tugged on his hand, leading him toward the door.  "But Mom is downstairs now and even Bill knows better than to antagonize her." 

"Smart man," Mulder agreed with a grin. 

Scully was true to her word.  As long as Maggie was present, Bill acted civilly, if not overly friendly toward his sister's partner.  Lunch passed in excited conversation between Tara and Maggie about the upcoming portrait, with Scully chiming in about the other items they'd picked up at the mall.  As with most lunches with women just back from 'gathering', the men were left to silently add up their now burgeoning credit card charges. 

It was early afternoon and Mulder was hoping to sneak into the family room and see if the Yankees game could be found on ESPN.  To his consternation, Bill had beaten him to the set.  "Mom!  When are you gonna install that damned Dish!" he yelled as he tried and failed to locate his preferred channel. 

"When I start spending more than thirty minutes in front of it each night watching the news," was her terse reply from the kitchen. 

"Damn.  Well, we have a choice between the Braves in Chicago or Houston in Milwaukee," Bill muttered, somewhat in Mulder's direction.  Both men issued matching sighs. 

"Wait, there's soccer," Mulder pointed out before the channel switched again.  Bill shrugged apathetically and flopped down on the big recliner, most likely his father's chair.  Mulder settled in on the sofa.  At least he was secure in the knowledge that Maggie was just a few feet away in the kitchen.  He felt like a total idiot, or worse yet, an 8 year old constantly wanting to stay close to his mommy, but it did make him feel less uncomfortable to know that his partner and her mother were there to hear any altercations. 

By mid afternoon, Bill was dozing and Mulder was falling asleep.  It was quiet and peaceful.  He could hear Matthew and William playing in the backyard.  The girls were probably down for their naps.  He had no idea what was going on in the kitchen but it seemed to entail a great deal of chopping, stirring and an occasional clank of metal pots and pans.  

He was just drifting off to sleep when he felt the cushions on the sofa dip.  A small hand brushed the hair off his forehead and a soft kiss was placed right below his left ear.  He shook off his drowsiness, but without opening his eyes, he pulled his partner onto his lap. 

"I thought you were asleep," she whispered so as not to wake up the sleeping bear in the recliner. 

"Just about.  In my dreams, this delicious nymph came by and started kissing me," he whispered in reply as he opened his eyes to smile at her. 

"A cute nymph?" she asked with a raised brow over the twinkle in her eye. 

"The cutest.  Damn sexy, too.  Excuse me, I want to get back to her," and he promptly closed his eyes, feigning sleep. 

She took that as her cue and started kissing him all over his face and neck.  He was thoroughly enjoying himself, about to embark on returning the attention when a growl from the recliner startled them both. 

"Get a room!" Bill slurred. 

"Get a life," Scully quickly responded, but the mood was broken and Mulder felt her tense in his arms. 

"Then go upstairs," Bill countered.  

"We can't.  The girls are upstairs taking a nap in our room," Scully shot back, her arms crossing her chest.  "And besides, this isn't your room, either, Bill." 

Mulder groaned at that last comment.  He recognized it for what it was -- a shot across the bow.  "Scully . . ." 

"Well, it's more my room than yours, little sister," Bill said with a lowered voice that made Mulder want to hide behind the sofa. 

"Since when?" Scully challenged.  

Mulder looked around the room, noting where sharp and heavy objects might lie within reach and wondering if either combatant would focus on him if he tried to remove them. 

"Since you ran off and played dead for two years, that's when!" Bill spat.  "What, you think you can just waltz in here like nothing happened?  Do you know the grief you caused this family -- the grief HE caused this family?  How you can even show your face in this house is beyond me!" 

Scully's eyes narrowed and Mulder knew whatever silence there was in the room was simply the eye of the hurricane passing over.  The back half of the storm was about to unleash.  

"You sanctimonious son of a bitch," she seethed.  "How dare you sit there in our father's chair and talk to me like that.  I did what I had to do to keep my family safe and I would do it all again if need be.  You have no idea what I went through, what Mulder has gone through, because if you did you'd be down on your knees in gratitude.  We saved your life, you asshole!  Your life and the lives of your family." 

"By bustin' him out of prison?" Bill laughed, but there was more menace than hilarity in the sound.  "Oh, that's rich.  What are you going to tell me, Dana?  Gonna try to tell me about how he was abducted by aliens, how he died and then was raised from the dead?  Mom might believe that load of shit, but I'm not buying it for minute!" 

"You were never here to see any of it, Bill!  You're just like Dad, never there when you're needed!"  The shock of her words hit her before the last syllable had left her mouth.  Mulder reached for her shoulder but she shrugged away, her hand to her lips as if hoping to stop any more heresy from escaping as she ran from the room.  Bill stood in stunned silence and then glared at Mulder before leaving the room, but turning in the opposite direction as his sister.  Mulder heard the screen door slam at the same time as hurried footsteps sounded on the stairs leading to the second floor. 

Tara stood in the doorway, chewing her lip.  "What was that all about?" she asked cautiously. 

"Sibling rivalry?" Mulder tried for a joke but realized it was hopeless.  "You better go find Bill.  I'll talk to Dana." 

"This is going to be a long vacation for us, isn't it, Fox?" Tara offered with a sad smile. 

Mulder took a deep breath and nodded. 

Scully was throwing clothes into one of the suitcases when he made it up to their room.  The babies were still sleeping, but she didn't seem concerned about waking them as she grabbed diaper wipes and toys and shoved them in bags.  He caught her hands, but she pulled out of his grasp. 

"We're going home," she said through clenched teeth.

"And not see Charlie?  And skip out on Walter and Kim at their wedding?  And who exactly is going to tell your mom?" he asked quietly as he sat on the bed, watching her frantically clear the room of their possessions. 

She swallowed several times and then sat down next to him on the bed.  "He makes me . . . there are just times I want to . . . " 

"Shoot him?" he asked in perfect deadpan, but his eyes gave him away. 

"No.  I don't like him that much," she shot back, but he'd succeeded in getting her to calm down a little.  "Mulder, I can't stay under the same roof as that man," she said tersely. 

"I know.  I understand.  But this isn't just about you and Bill.  This is about William, Missy and Sammi.  This is about Charlie and his family, Tara, Matty and Julia.  But mostly, this is about your mom, Scully.  She's been through so much and all she's asking is for us to get along for a couple of weeks."  He put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him.  "I know it's hard, but we have to find a way to make it work." 

She nodded slowly.  "I know, Mulder.  And you're right."  She punched him lightly on the arm when he grinned at her.  "Don't get a big head about it," she warned.  "But quite frankly, this house just isn't big enough for Bill and me.  I think we need to get over to Walter's apartment as soon as possible." 

"It sounded like you were making enough food to feed the Seventh Cavalry, Scully.  I think we're morally obligated to stay until after dinner."  

"OK, but the minute the dinner dishes are done, we're out of here!" she growled.  He smiled at her angry expression and kissed her on the nose.  She kissed him back, on the lips.  He put his arms around her, pushing her back on the bed and proceeded to kiss her with all the passion he could muster. 

"Da-da-da-da," sang Sammi as she stood up in the playpen.  

Scully pushed against him and reluctantly he let her up.  "Who needs a dry diaper?" she cooed as she picked up the cherub faced little girl, still warm from her nap. 

"Mama, mama," called out Missy and Mulder picked her up, carrying her over to lie her next to her sister on the bed.  

"So, Scully, wanna race?  First one finished with the diapering wins?" 

"You are so gonna lose this one, Mulder," she told him.  This time, she was right.  

"Dana, I wish you'd reconsider.  Charlie is going to be heartbroken if you're not here," Maggie pleaded with her daughter as Mulder took the last of their luggage out to the minivan. 

"I wish their plane hadn't been delayed, too.  But Mom, we're just going to Arlington.  Crystal City Place is no more than an hour away and we will always be traveling opposite rush hour.  I promise we'll be back here tomorrow before 11 and we'll all have lunch and then do something together, maybe take the kids to the park." 

"I hate it when you kids fight, I always have," Maggie choked out through her tears. 

"I know and I'm really sorry.  But believe me, this is for the best.  You have the number of the condo and you have my cell and Mulder's.  If something comes up or you need to confer with us on plans, just give us a call." 

"He's stubborn, but he loves you," Maggie insisted.  "He's just being a big brother." 

Scully gave her mother a resigned smile.  "We'll see you tomorrow, Mom.  I promise." 

"The kids are all buckled in," Mulder said sheepishly.  "We better get going." 

Maggie gave her a hug and kiss.  She waved at Mulder, who was standing by the car in sight of the children.  She stood on the porch and watched them as they pulled out of the driveway and down the street.  Only when they turned the corner did she finally step back into the house.

continued in Chapter 4

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