Flight into Egypt 7:  Going Home

Author:  Vickie Moseley           

             Going Home:  Chapter 13:  I thee wed

The Beach

Ocean City, MD

July 8, 2005

6:00 pm

Seagulls played with William and his sisters and his cousin Matt as they scampered near the surf under the watchful eyes of their grandmother.  Three men stood in tuxedoes with the pants rolled up, feet bare on the sand, careful not to step too close to the encroaching water of the shoreline.  It made for an odd picture, but this was a private beach and no one really took notice.

"You think they skipped out on it?" Bill proposed as he stared off toward the house and the glare of the setting sun.

"How could they?  We have their kids!" Charlie shot back.

Walter chuckled but Bill was still concerned.  "All I know is half my 401K is going to go to pay for these damned tux's if we stand out here any longer.  The salt spray from the surf is -- "

"They're here," yelled Nate from the deck of the house.

Maggie, Tara, Karen, and Kim exchanged silent glances and smiles.  Ben, with Nate's help, rounded up the children, including little Julia in her carrier and assembled them in some order along the path out to the shore.  "OK, everybody, remember, toss the flower petals, not the baskets," Ben warned.  Two little boys exchanged sullen glances and then nodded at their older cousin.

The groom was the first to arrive, pulling off his sneakers and leaving them on the deck.  He was dressed in a black tux, as the other men on the beach, but his tie was not the same as the others.  It matched the bridesmaids' dresses worn by Tara, Karen and Kim.

Mulder ruffled his son's hair as he passed, picking up each of his daughters to place a kiss on their cheeks before placing them back in the line up as tiny princesses waiting for the queen.  The girls wore taffeta dresses selected by their aunts to match the colors of the bridesmaids, with little crowns of flowers from the bride's bouquet encircling their heads.  "Daddy," Melissa said, giving Mulder a big wet kiss on the nose. 

"I love you, too, baby," Mulder said with a wink.  "But I have to go marry your mommy right now.  We'll have a party in just a few minutes."

Jeremy, with a very pretty young woman at his side, was the next to arrive, followed shortly by a young priest whom Maggie greeted warmly.  Mulder walked over and shook the man's hand.

"Thanks for coming, Father Michels," Mulder said. 

"Hey, always happy to do a wedding," Michels remarked.  "Besides, Father McCue, who sends his love and prayers, bet me 25 bucks that I'd get here and it would be a hoax.  I took his bet and now I'm $25 richer, after the ceremony of course."

"Don't ever let the evils of gambling get in the way of a good joke, Father," Mulder replied dryly, casting a glance at Maggie trying desperately to hide her laugh.

The young priest smirked and looked around.  "So, we're just waiting on the bride, I take it?"

"She's inside, but she'll be coming out in just a minute."  He signaled Ben, who had spent the better part of the afternoon arranging and rearranging the sound system. 

"I got it, Uncle Fox," he said, leaving the receiving line in Nate's hands so he could start the music.  Mulder had to smile, he'd put the boys in charge of the music and almost expected Green Day or some underground alternative band to come blaring over the speakers.  He was pleasantly surprised to find their tastes were more eclectic than the usual teens.  They had a very nice selection of classical and baroque pieces that they had insisted he had to preview.  He'd immediately approved all of their choices. 

The first selection came to a close and the opening notes of Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring filter to the assembled group on the gentle breeze.

Mulder was gripped with a memory.  Sitting on a beach, watching a child play with his parents.  He looked over at his own children -- Missy and Sammi wide-eyed and listening to the music float over them, hand in hand as they had since they could take their first steps.  Will was giggling at something Matt had said until a look from his big cousin Ben reminded him he was had a part to play and was supposed to be quiet.  And then, at the door, stood a vision in white.

He never thought they'd get to this day.  So many times fate had intervened and almost snatch her from him, or him from her.  When he'd come back, from his abduction, 'death' and burial, he'd been so confused and so lost.  But she was always there.  Over protective to the max, but also willing to let him worry, let him search to find the meaning of their miracle.  Then he'd had to leave her and the precious boy now kicking sand on his older cousin.  Mulder's heart wrenched when he thought of that lonely year without both of his loved ones.

They hadn't talked about it, everything they'd lived through in the dark times.  It was their way.  But sometimes the shadows of those horrible experiences weighed heavy on them both.  Now, watching her look at him from the steps of the deck, he truly felt like they'd come to the end of a long and arduous journey, that they'd at last found their truth.  It had been hiding in each other, all that time.

He hadn't seen her wedding gown.  He'd teased her about that, but she'd insisted.  He was planning the wedding, but she was picking the gown.  She found it in a resale shop in Georgetown.  It was pure white, cinched at the waist as befitting her tiny figure.  The skirt was full and seemed to dance around her in the gentle breeze.   Instead of a veil, which she'd assured him would have blown off in the wind, her hair was secured away from her face with a clip and cascade of tiny silk roses.  She was a vision.  She was his vision.

The bride walked barefoot out on the deck.  She smiled at the assembled 'honor guard' as she walked through.  Sammi and Missy looked up and smiled at her and Will gave her a toothy grin.  Suddenly remembering they had jobs to do, the children, her son and daughters and nephews, tossed pink rose petals at her feet.  A few stuck to her dress, but rather than brush them off, she hoped they would stay.  They looked like they belonged on it.  Just as the song came to its conclusion, she joined her beloved at the sea.

The honor guard followed the bride to her groom and everyone gathered close to hear the words of the priest and the betrothed above the pounding of the surf.  As the ceremony ended, and the groom kissed his bride, the water came forward and lapped at their feet.  Everyone dove for higher ground except the newlyweds, who were so lost in each other they didn't notice the cold water that covered their feet and ankles.  The two partners broke the kiss and looked at each other for a long moment.

"Scully, what is it about you that makes me not mind being 'all wet'?" Mulder quipped with a tilt of his head as the tide continued its journey to the high water mark several feet toward the beach house.

She laughed and tugged at his hand.  Together they dashed to the deck, kicking water and sand in their wake. 

The party continued long into the night.  Mulder had rented the house from Bill's friend for the weekend, so when little ones grew tired they were carried off to bed so the adults could continue the festivities.  As the stars came out, couples started to wander out onto the sand, going for moonlit strolls along the shore. 

At one point in the evening, Mulder found himself standing at the railing of the deck, watching the surf in the moonlight.  He could hear his bride, the thought making him smile, talking animatedly with her sisters-in-law about pre-schools and on-line shopping.  He didn't notice that he wasn't alone until the other person cleared his throat.

"Bill," Mulder said, startled.  "Sorry.  I didn't see you come up."

"S'OK," Bill said.  "Need another?" he asked, nodding toward the beer in Mulder's hand that rested on the railing. 

"Nah, I think I've hit my limit.  She gets mad at me if I have too many," he said, tilting his head in Scully's direction.

"Yeah.  Tara's the same way.  Only time I get to cut loose now is on shore leave -- and even that's getting fewer and farther between.  Just not the same when you're on the down side of 40."

Mulder nodded in agreement.  It was the most civil conversation he could ever remember having with his brother-in-law.  That thought gave him pause.  Bill and he were now 'officially' family.  Would wonders never cease?

"Thanks for coming today," Mulder blurted out, for no particular reason except he could think of positively nothing more to say to the man.

"Yeah, well, couldn't miss it, now, could I?  I just wanted to say, well, we've had our disagreements in the past -- "

It was everything Mulder could do to keep from spitting his mouthful of beer out on the sand below the deck.

"and I still can't see what she sees in you.  But I guess that's not really up to me, is it?"

"No, Bill, but I'm grateful you realize that," Mulder interjected.  Bill seemed so concentrated on what he wanted to say that he probably didn't hear the comment, or at the very least understand its meaning.

"So, anyway, if you guys ever need anything, I mean San Diego is closer to Montana than Baltimore, so we could be there faster, ya know?"

Mulder regarded the man next to him and realized what was happening.  He was being accepted into the family.  He had to bite his lip to keep from crying. 

"Thank you, Bill.  That goes both ways, I hope you know."

"Well, Tara and I were talking and we'd like you guys to come to San Diego for Christmas.  I mean, we don't have a lot of room in base housing, we'd have to put you up in a hotel -- "

"Not a problem.  The kids have never seen the Pacific.  We'd love to come.  I'll let Scu -- Dana and Tara can figure out the details.  We'll be there."

Bill then lifted his hand and put it on Mulder's shoulder.  "Take care of her . . . of them."

"Always," Mulder replied.  When Bill left, there was still a warmth where his hand had been and it spread through Mulder's whole body.

Mulder had just about decided it was time to take his bride to their room when Charlie stepped up.

"So I hear you're spending Christmas in San Diego," he said with a wry smile.

"Yeah, well, Bill offered," Mulder demurred.

"I must say, that takes guts, Mulder.  I mean, you and Bill, Tara and Dana, just the two families -- "

Mulder choked so hard he couldn't respond.  Charlie broke into laughter.  "Boy, you are soooo easy!  This is gonna be fun!"

Mulder started breathing again.  "You Scullys have a very wide mean streak, I'm discovering."

"Seriously, we'll all be there at Christmas, Mulder.  Wouldn't make you take Bill on during the holidays all by yourself.  No one should have to face his eggnog French toast alone."

"Eggnog French Toast?"

"Yeah, and don't try telling him you're a vegan.  He doesn't use real eggs in the batter."

"I really don't want to hear this right now, Charlie," Mulder said, his stomach doing a slow roll.

"Well, I just came by to say we're probably shoving off early tomorrow, noon or so if Karen has her way."

Mulder regarded the younger man and put his hand on his shoulder.  "It's been great getting to know you, Charlie.  Even if you do have a terrible sense of humor."

"It's great having you in the family, Mulder.  Takes some of Bill's heat off me for a change," Charlie shot back.

As soon as Charlie left the deck, Mulder started looking for Scully.  She was giving her mother a kiss on the cheek as Maggie departed for her bedroom.  He took the opportunity to give Maggie a good night kiss, too.  Then he took Scully's hand.

"Hey, can a groom get his bride to take a walk on the beach?" he asked.

"Let me see, I have to check my social calendar," she teased, but took his hand and they stepped down the stairs and into the sand.

"It was a beautiful wedding, Mulder.  You did a great job."

"Thank you," he said, leaning down to kiss her on the lips.  She smiled at him as he broke the kiss and they continued walking close to the surf so the waves lapped at their feet.

"It's so beautiful here.  I'd like to come back sometime," she said wistfully.

"How about next summer?" he asked.

"It will probably be rented next time, Mulder.  We can't always be this lucky.  I'm shocked you were able to get it for this weekend on such short notice."

"About that, Scully.  Um, you know how I was intending to get rid of my parents properties?"

"Yeah.  That's what you did all day Wednesday at your lawyer's, right?"

"Well, yes, sort of.  Actually, I was at the lawyer's and Bill's friend's real estate office."

"What are you stumbling to tell me here, Mulder?"

"My lawyer said that if I sold the properties out right, I would be in for a huge tax liability.  But if I took the money and purchased other property -- um, -- "

"You _bought_ this beach house?" she squeaked.

"Yeah.  And Walter's condo in the city.  Between the West Tisbury house, the Greenwich house and the summer place in Rhode Island, these two properties just about covered my gain.  I had a little to put in a trust for the kids.  We have papers to sign on Monday."

"We?"

"It's joint tenancy, Scully.  Half yours.  My whole estate for that matter."

"Mulder, I don't know what to say!  That is a huge beach house -- "

"Seems we all just fit in it, though.  Look, it will be for family gatherings.  I want Will and the girls to know their cousins, Scully.  And maybe sometime we could convince Joe and MC to bring their kids out for a week on the beach.  The rest of the year Rick will manage it like he does now as a vacation rental.  But we get first dibs any time we want, of course,"

"But Walter was renting the condo," she pointed out.  "How did you buy it?"

"Easy.  I talked to the owner.  She's a sweet little lady and not really that excited about finding a new tenant as good as an Assistant Director of the FBI.  She's more interested in moving to Phoenix to be near her grandchildren.  She told me I was doing her a favor.  And this way, we'll always have a place close to your mom's when we come out."  He hesitated for a moment and looked out to the ocean.  "Unless you want to stay out here," he said softly.

She cupped his cheek and turned his face so that their eyes met.  "We have a home.  It's on a mountainside in Montana.  But I appreciate the gesture.  I have to say that I'm a bit overwhelmed," she said thoughtfully.

"Nothing is in black and white yet, Scully.  We can tear up all the papers.  No deal goes through without your signature -- "

She stopped him with a kiss.  "I love the idea," she said.  "Mom will be thrilled, of course."

"Good."

"Bill will be absolutely green," she added with a twinkle in her eye that wasn't from the moonlight.

"Hey, icing on the cake," Mulder shot back hugging her close.  "Shall we head back?"

"It's awfully full in that house tonight, Mulder," she said taking his hand and walking backward, pulling him away from the waves.

"What are you suggesting, my wife?"

"Well, I loved your beach wedding.  How about I show you my beach wedding night . . . "

Beach house

July 9, 2005

6:50 am

They thought they were sneaking in before anyone was awake, but Maggie met them at the door with cups of coffee and a wicked grin.  "Have a nice night?" she asked.

Mulder bit his lip and then remembered he had nothing to be ashamed of.  "Yes, a very nice night.  We even took a quick swim this morning."

"Well, you two better go take a shower before everyone else gets up.  Sand has a way of sneaking into the most uncomfortable places," she said with a perfectly straight face.

Scully tried to hide her grin with her hand, but Mulder just bowed and headed off to the shower, doubling back to grab Scully's hand and take her with him.

Charlie, Karen and the boys were the first to leave.  Charlie had to get back to port and Karen wanted to get Ben ready to leave for school in the fall.  There were tearful goodbyes, but not unhappy ones and Maggie was excited that Ben would be close enough to come to see her some weekends.

Bill and Tara packed up next.  They'd collected all their belongings from Maggie's the day before and were ready to head to the airport.  Mulder offered to have them stay another day, but their flight time left them no options.  Bill hugged his sister while Tara hugged Mulder.  Then while the women were hugging, Mulder offered Bill his hand.  Bill shook it firmly and then pulled Mulder into a brief hug.  "You're family now.  Get used to it."  Mulder could only nod.

They stayed at the beach another week and then did all the things in Washington that Will had been promised -- the National Zoo, the Smithsonian, all the monuments at night.  The little boy loved it all and solemnly vowed that he'd do it all again next summer.

Before they knew it, it was time to leave.  Maggie swore she wouldn't cry, but Mulder made no such promise.  Tears were in his eyes as he hugged her goodbye.

"Goodbye Fox.  I'll see you at Bill and Tara's at Christmas."

"You could always come out this fall and visit, Mom.  The aspens on the mountain are beautiful in September," Scully offered.

"I might just take you up on that," Maggie said, wiping some errant dampness from her cheek.  "Damn these allergies!  I didn't have this problem at the beach!"

"Just call Rick any time you want to go out there, Maggie," Mulder told her.  "It's your place, too."

"I'll miss you all so much," she said, hugging them each in turn.  And then they boarded the plane and were on their way.

Epilogue

Walmart Super Center

August 5, 2005

7:15 pm

Joe and Mulder were in their usual aisle of the store, looking at the end of the season sale on grills and grilling equipment.

"So you go on vacation, end up getting involved in an old case, get blown up, end up in the hospital and renew your wedding vows on the beach.  Oh, and buy a condo and a beach house, just for the hell of it.  Man, you lead a very strange life," Joe said, shaking his head.

"It's not like I planned any of it, Joe," Mulder assured him.  "Well, except for the vows on the beach."  Mulder and Scully had decided not to go into too much detail about the circumstances of their nuptials with their friends in Montana.  Renewal of vows seemed the most innocent of possible fabrications.

"So this kid, this Agent Wright.  He'll be replacing you and Dana on those closed down cases?"

"Yeah, Walter called me right after we got back.  The Director approved the reopening of the X Files and Wright's assignment to them.  Plus, they already have a partner for him.  Walter says he's a pathologist."

"The partner's a 'he'?  Guess they learned that lesson, huh?" Joe laughed.

Mulder ignored the obvious jibe.  "Jeremy's a good agent.  And since Walter hand picked his partner, it will be a good fit."

"So, if he calls, are you going to lend a hand again?"

Mulder looked over at his friend. "If I can help out by email, yes.  If it requires me to travel five feet from my front porch, no.  I'm out.  I told Walter as much before we left."

"Right answer, former G-man.  You don't need any more trips to the hospital."  Two arms wrapped around him from behind and he looked over his shoulder to see Scully smiling at him.  He turned on his heel so he could put his arms around her waist.

"That last dance was a doozy," he said with a smile.  "I have too many other things to keep me occupied."

"Oh, such as . . .?" she inquired.

"Wondering where our children are, if they aren't with you," he said pointedly.

"Josh has Will in the sporting goods aisle looking at bats and gloves and Meg has the girls in the Barbie aisle."

"Barbie?  Aren't they a little young for that?" he squeaked.

Her knowing smirk was all the answer he was going to get on that one.  "So, what else do you have in mind to keep you occupied?" she purred, hugging him around the waist and giving his butt a pat in the process.

He squeaked again and dropped his eyes to her face.  Licking his lips, his eyes at a dreamy half-mast, he rested his forehead on her forehead.  "This smoker over here.  Scully, we could smoke our own turkey this Thanksgiving!"

She reared back indignantly.  "No, Mulder.  No more grilling equipment."

"But Scully," he whined, "we could smoke hams, too.  Maybe take one to Bill for Christmas."

"We are not poisoning my brother.  Put the idea out of your head this instant."

Joe had wandered down the aisle and caught up with his wife.  MC pointed over to their friends with a jerk of her thumb.

"What are the Mulders doing?" she asked.

"Arguing over a smoker," Joe replied casually.

"Arguing?  Why do they look like they're laughing?" MC shot back.

"I have no idea, sweetheart.  But until they settle down, let's pretend we don't know 'em."

                                                                           The End

                                                 (until I can think up another reason to visit)Coming soon!! The Wwedding album and calender

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