Title: Nova

Author: Angel

Feedback: Please! I love every but of it!

Classification: MSR, Colonization fic.

Spoilers: All the way up to 7^th season finale but NOT including.

Rating: NC-17 (for some parts-very mild consensual sex- but to be safe!) Others are probably PG-13 or so for naughty words and implied naughty stuff =).

Summery: The inevitable happens. Mulder has planned ahead and now does everything in his power to keep Scully safe.

You MUST read all parts to understand! Available at Ephemeral and my home page.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. Characters are property of Fox, 1013, ect. No money is being made. No infringement is intended. A few poems and songs are used without permission, names of authors are given. Prayers which I did not write, and I don’t know who wrote are included in some areas.

Homepage: (to find missing parts and sooner or later the completed version, also posted at Ephemeral)

A HUGE thanks to Evie my beta reader! Nova would never be doing this well, or going as fast, without her help! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! Umm… one more! Thank you!

Note: Want Nova updates in the mail? Just let me know!

"Baby don’t look up, the sky is falling." Tori Amos

(28/?)

Day 165

Amanda watched Skinner carefully. "Walter?" He didn’t reply to her soft voice. "Walter?" She asked, slightly louder. Certain he was sound asleep she slipped out of bed. She dressed quickly, keeping her eyes on him. As silently as possible she crossed the room and crouched by the dresser. She carefully opened the bottom drawer, mindful of the squeak she knew would come. Taking quick glances at the bed she pushed her hand under the piles of clothes until she felt the cool metal of a gun. Slowly, quietly she tucked it in the front of her jeans before standing. With one last look at the sleeping man she stepped out the door and into the silent halls of Nova.

Day 168

Mulder rubbed his hands together for warmth. "We found Henry." He said simply to Scully as he stepped into the Medical Room.

Her hand wavered slightly as she put away towels at the news. Henry was the last body missing. "Where?" Scully asked, only because she had nothing else to say.

Mulder didn’t answer. Stepping up behind her he wrapped his arms around her waist and set his forehead on her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" She asked softly after some time.

"Yeah." He breathed against her neck. "I’m just worn out. We started rebuilding the barn today." He stood straight so that Scully could turn in his arms. "Enough animals made it so that we should be able to rebreed the stock." He added rubbing his face.

"Still clearing the trees from the fields?"

He nodded. "I think we will be doing that until next season, but at least we can use those trees for fire wood." He shook his head, obviously wanting the topic to be over with. "Are you done here?"

Scully looked around to make sure she has cleaned up after the day. "Yeah, I’m ready."

"Good. I need to get cleaned up then I’m going to pass out in bed." Mulder placed a hand on the small of her back and guided Scully from the room.

Scully immediately set about filling the fireplace with wood as Mulder stripped down to his boxers. "Lay down." She instructed him, pointing to the bed.

He gave her a quizzical look but gladly complied.

Taking a seat by his legs, Scully rung out a cloth and washed away the day’s sweat with the damp towel. Mulder watched her through heavy lids as she finished with legs, after lifting them to wash underneath also. She sat down on his thighs and bathed his chest in long smooth strokes.

With each pass of the cloth Mulder felt a little more of the stress and tension ease from his body.

Scully watched as his eyes slowly closed, his breath deepening, his body relaxing under her fingers.

Picking up his hand she studied it as she washed away the dirt. His skin had toughened from the hard conditions. But underneath the wear and tear it was still that same hand. Loving and tender, but strong and lethal.

"Turn over." Scully whispered, getting up on to her knees so he could do as asked.

In his half sleep state, Mulder rolled. Without bothering to shift his body from his initial position he settled heavily into the bed.

Scully sat softly on his lower back, not wanting to interrupt his calmness. Calm was a luxury Mulder didn’t allow himself these days. He was constantly glancing over his shoulder, speaking in hushed tones with Skinner, he watched Benjamin without anymore pretense.

Scully ran the cloth over his back and shoulders, savoring the way his muscles yielded to her ministrations. Rubbing the cloth against the back of his neck she tilted her head to look at his face. He was asleep. Peaceful and as unguarded as he would let himself become at this time. Scully tossed the damp cloth to the side and lay facing him. She ran her fingertips down the side of his face before letting her palm rest over his cheek, his breathing puffing warmly against the tender skin of her wrist. Shifting slightly she moved closer to him, wrapping her arm around his neck. Blanketing his body with hers. Offering what minimal protection she could from the things that threatened him.

Say 170

"Mulder."

Mulder poked his head out from under where he was trying to repair a collapsed chimney. "Yeah, Benjamin?" He kept his voice as even and free of hatred as possible.

"I need you to do a job."

"I’m doing one right now." He stated, moving back under the stones.

Benjamin narrowed his eyes at the man. "Well you can finish it tomorrow."

With an audible sigh Mulder pushed himself out from under the walls of Nova and stood, brushing the dust from himself.

Benjamin met Mulder’s eyes steadily. "Walk to the river, make sure there aren’t any trees down. We don’t need to have bark and dead leaves in our drinking water." With his orders delivered, Benjamin turned and started to walk away.

"Excuse me?" Mulder asked dumbfounded.

"I’m sure you can handle the job on your own. If any trees are down you and your friend Skinner can go back tomorrow and drag them out." He called over his shoulder.

Glaring at the older man’s back Mulder sucked in a deep breath, with it his pride. Kicking a rock from the pile he was using to repair the chimney he set out towards the river.

"There you are." Scully said relieved. Without giving Mulder a chance to shut the door she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He placed his hands gently on her waist. He was still too angry about the day’s events to fully appreciate Scully being in his arms.

"You all right?" Scully asked releasing his from her hold.

He nodded. "Yeah." His voice was coated with annoyance.

"Good." She said with a satisfied nod. "Now get out of here."

Mulder looked at her with a confused expression.

"The guys stopped by and told me to send you over for some poker as soon as you got back." She explained.

Mulder shook his head slowly. "No. I’ll stay here. I haven’t seen you all day."

"I know." She said as she turned him toward the still open door. "But I will still be here in a few hours. Go relax. Take some of your anger out on them when they try to cheat." Scully teased lightly.

Mulder glanced over his shoulder at her. As much as he missed her, he didn’t want to sit still. He needed to be doing something to control the emotions bottled up inside him. "Ok." He complied softly. "I won’t be too long."

Getting up on her toes Scully placed a lingering kiss on his cheek. "You take as long as you need."

Mulder smiled, for the first time that day. "Thanks, Scully."

She just smiled in response and pushed him in the direction of the Main Room.

Day 174

"Shh." Mulder soothed softly in Scully’s ear. The dreams had become worse. Twice a night. Never changing, never giving more information.

With a shaky breath Scully sunk back into Mulder’s chest as his hand stroked her hair lightly, her head resting on the other.

"Ok now?" He asked softly, placing a light kiss on the side on her neck.

Scully nodded numbly as she stared unseeing at the wall in front of her.

They lay in silence for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts. A slow smile crossed Scully face as she took Mulder’s hand in hers. "Feel this." She whispered, pressing his palm against her belly.

He let out a soft quick breath against her neck as he felt the gentle kick from inside her womb.

Scully ran her hand from his wrist to elbow over and over as he felt the movement of his child for the first time.

It was many minutes before Mulder slid his hand from her stomach to her cheek, turning her head to press his lips against hers. His tongue parted her lips gently but insistently. She gladly accepted as she turned fully onto her back. Mulder wasted no time covering her body with his. Scully felt the warmth, of his body, and anticipation, spread through her like a fire.

Eager to feel her skin against his, Mulder pulled away the few clothes they were wearing to bed. He pressed open mouthed kisses to her belly, her breasts, her neck, and finally to her mouth again. "I love you." He breathed. Kissing her again before she got a chance to reply with words. So she answered in actions. She pulled his body into the cradle of her thighs, welcoming him into her.

The invitation did not go unanswered.

Scully broke their kiss with a soft whimper. His movements were slow, deliberate, and almost dreamlike in their languorous quality. But wonderful. Tilting her head, Scully watched his face. Their eyes met, and locked. Wavering only as each reached their peak.

Mulder settled, with a long breath, against her body. Scully held him against her, in her, not ready for any connection-spell to be broken. Weaving a hand into his hair she pulled his ear to her lips. "I love you." She finally responded, in words.

Notes: Well boys and girls, real life is catching up with me. So Nova will be a little slow getting out for a while. But I will do my best, as always =).