Work Text:
Love at First Sight
“I have a daughter,” she said. He plays the idea in his head over and over again. A child her child, possibly the only child she will ever get to love. He sips his ginger ale and looks down among the clouds from 10,000 feet. “Can you come? There is a hearing.” How could he not. How could he deny her anything after all they have been through. So here he is racing to San Diego to testify that she would be an amazing mother, because of course she would be. Even if this means she will leave the x-files, hell even leave him, it would be worth it.
The problem he sees isn’t in her being a mom, the problem is the child is sick and he can’t help thinking that this little girl was never meant to be. He is worried what her disease means, what is she really? Another clone like Kirk Crawford? Scully has been through so much. They both have and now that he knows Samantha has been alive the whole time and isn’t ready to have a relationship with him, that everything he has believed and work for is just a bunch of men exploiting the American people for their own ill-gotten game. He wonders what he should do. He’s been thinking about it a lot lately.
If they can expose these men, what would happen after? Would she go back to Quantico to teach? If this child is able to be hers he would assume that would be what she would do. Normal hours so she can be there for family dinner. Would he get to come over too? If she wasn’t down in the basement with him would he even want to stay? Months ago he was asked what was the one thing in the world he wanted? A cure for her cancer. But in truth it was her, just her healthy, and able to live a long life. She deserves everything, his Scully. He can’t imagine not seeing her, hearing her voice dismissing his theories laughing at his terrible jokes. He thinks about them in the forest, her singing badly to keep him awake would she sing like that to this child. Would he be uncle Mulder? She asked him once about kids, about his genetics and he had rubbed her back because while it wasn’t something on his mind after their talk it was all he thought about for weeks and in every scenario she was always the mother of his children. He can’t imagine being with anyone else ,doesn’t want to be. He lets his head fall back against the small airplane seat. How does he explain his intentions to her now. He realizes that he is overthinking a lot of this. Because as much as he loves Scully, she might not feel the same. All he can do is try to help her in any way she asks.
He grabs his bag catches a cab to the children's center. She said she has a rental car. She is staying with Bill, which means he’ll need to find a hotel nearby but first he needs to see her, needs to have some time to talk he needs more information so that he can do whatever she needs.
He sees Scully through the small window in the door pulling it open, his breath catches, he is a believer in many things, but until this very moment he didn’t think it was real, to have such an intense feeling of love for another person at first sight. But tiny Emily coloring her potato is like her mother very good at proving him wrong.
As her small face turns up to him he notices one other important detail. Emily Sim has the same color eyes as Samantha Mulder. As he looks to Scully and back at Emily another terrifying realization occurs to him. They didn’t just use Scullys ovum for this child, they used him as the donor as well. He doesn’t know exactly how he knows this startling fact, but he just answered a lot of his own questions. He will be doing whatever is necessary to protect them both.
He sits on Bills couch waiting for her to come down. “I have to thank you for coming.” she says sitting close to him with her fingers in her lap.
“There is something else I haven’t told you,” her voice is soft and hesitant.
“Emily is my daughter too, isn’t she?” Mulders voice is careful as he reaches up to cup Scullys face.
“I don’t know how Mulder, I just saw her eyes and so I had them run it and I’m so sorry but I had to tell you. I don’t know what you want to do with this information... if you ever even wanted kids or” he stops her.
“Scully when we first talked about kids, back in Home, it was true that I hadn’t really thought about it. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about it extensively afterwards.” she looks at him a bit puzzled.
“Honestly, even the second I saw her, Emily, before I saw her eyes, before I knew she was mine. I loved her. Because she was yours, after our talk every time I imagined having kids, you were always their mother. I’m a bit sad that we didn’t get the whole making them together part.” she smiles at him.
“Scully this is our daughter... and I think given that they rejected your application because you are single. If you are willing I would like to be added.”
“Mulder..”
“I know, it is a huge decision, life changing. Scully she is our daughter. I don’t want to not be apart of her life.” Scully sighs.
“It wasn’t just being single, Mulder we have dangerous jobs. She has extensive medical issues that will require constant care and money. I’m not trying to dissuade you, I just want to be realistic.” Mulder nods.
“Scully, you know I’ve been questioning my faith and memories. After meeting Sam, I’ve come to really evaluate what I want out of this life, and every single time all I know for sure is I want to be with you. I love you Scully, have loved you for longer than I’m ready to admit. I knew when I got on that plane that I would do anything you asked to help you. If you want to stay with the bureau, I will quit tomorrow Scully. If you want to stay home with Emily, great do it. I will move over to white collar and support us. I don’t care if we both quit and move out here and live next door to your brother who hates me. I just care about you and her.”
“Mulder are you serious?”
“Yes, whatever you want just as long as I can be apart of it.” she isn’t sure what to say so she just leans up and kisses him. He kisses her back his hands moving into hair as he gently pulls back his eyes searching hers. She licks her lips.
“So if I said I wanted to get married and move in together so that we could both be there for Emily.” she states.
“I would ask you where the car keys are, because we can be in Vegas in 4ish hours Scully. If you want to drive, though I don’t know the flight options at this time of night. But if we leave in the next 20 minutes. We could go get married have some buffet breakfast and be back before the hearing.”
“Mulder?”
“Yea Scully?” she holds out the car keys as he grins madly and kisses her.
They start to head to the door, “Dana?” Margaret asks from the top of the stairs.
“Where are you going? Its the middle of the night?” Scully looks at Mulder.
“We’re leaving to getting married in Vegas before the hearing.” Margaret gasps.
“Wait, Dana let me tell Bill I’m coming, you’ll need a witness.”
12 hours later
“I see that an amended application has been submitted to the court for one Emily Sim.”
A larger woman stands up buttoning up her extremely expensive suit.
“That is correct, your honor. My clients Mr. Fox Mulder and his wife Dr. Dana Scully have submitted a new application. As you can see from the supplemental forms provided. Mr. Mulder intends to be the primary guardian of his daughter whose existence was unknown until now. We have provided his proven patronage along with a list of assets. We’ve also included that while Mr. Mulder has been employed by the federal government for well over 10 years. Given his daughters significant health concerns he has submitted his resignation. The third supplemental forms shows that he had more than sufficient funds to provide for his child, himself, and his wife more than comfortably for the rest of their lives. Dr. Scully has submitted all paperwork to be transferred to Quantico where she will be able to maintain regular hours along with health benefits for the family. Mr. Mulder and Dr. Scully have also entered an agreement for a new home as of this afternoon. Escrow is set to close in 10 days. In regards to the child's health, Mr. Mulder and Dr. Scully have already been in touch with the leading pediatric doctor in autoimmune diseases who just happens to be based in Georgetown near their new home. We ask that the court immediately release the records of Ms. Emily Sim so that transfer of care can be provided with no distribution to Emilys ongoing care. We are asking for an immediate ruling for our clients as there is some concerns that the child's current care plan may be compromised if there is no parent able to make critical decisions.”
“Well it seems like Dr. Scully and Mr. Mulder are more than willing to do anything for their child.”
Mulder leans forward with Scully. “Yes sir, we are.” they say together, their hand linked below the table.
Mulders very fancy and somewhat scary lawyer looks up to the judge.
“The only thing preventing them right now, is this court not recognizing that regardless of how this child got here she is indeed very loved and wanted your honor.”
“Indeed she is. Ruling for Mr. Mulder and Dr. Scully to be recognized as the parents of Emily Sim.” he hits the gavel and Mulder swings Scully into his arms. They both have the biggest smiles on their faces.
“Let’s go get our little girl.” Mulder whispers. Scully nods. Mulder turns to his lawyer.
“Fox, I’m so happy for you. I have at your request also moved the money over to a trust for Emily. Bernard will send you the forms.” Mulder nods.
“And Scully? Does she need to sign anything?” his lawyer smiles.
“Fox you’ve had her as the beneficiary of everything for years. Bernard and I have been waiting for you to introduce us to her.”
Mulder laughs shaking his head of course its always been Scully.
“She is just as brilliant and incredible as you said.” Mulder nods.
“I’m so very lucky Maureen,” and he means it as Scully comes back holding Emilys hand, he knows that it was love at first sight.