Wambli-Part 18/18 Summary and disclaimers in Part 1 ***** "But you saved me! As difficult and frustrating as it's been sometimes, your God-damned strict rationalism and science have saved me a thousand times over! You kept me honest. You made me a whole person. I owe you everything, Scully, and you owe me nothing. "I don't know if I want to do this alone. I don't even know if I can. And if I quit now, they win." ***** Four months later 2 P.M. Dr. Dana Mulder left Lincoln around Noon and headed west on Highway 44. The roads were clear, which was a good thing this time of year. Though it was cold today, on this last day of the year, the previous days had been mild, the day after Christmas even reaching 60 degrees, melting any snow and ice that had still been on the roads since the last storm. Once she had arrived in Rapid, she had turned south on Highway 79 until she reached a point just past the small ranching community of Hermosa. There was more snow out here, at the foot of the mountains. She turned west again, on Highway 36, heading directly into the tree-filled island known as the Black Hills. She had traversed the familiar route into Custer State Park carefully, mindful of the ice that could be found on the curves of the roadway, and other places that didn't get much sun during the day. There was no sun today. If fact, the northern sky appeared dark, and snow was in the forecast. Scully couldn't believe she was doing this, driving up here, on New Year's Eve, with a snow storm on the way. But here she was. Almost there. Her mother had come out to spend Christmas in Lincoln, and when she discovered Scully's plans, she had insisted that she stay on past the New Year to watch the kids. After all, it had literally been months since her daughter and son-in-law had been able to spend some time alone together. Even during their 5th wedding anniversary last September, they had been surrounded by people: Skinner, the Gunmen, and nearly the entire population of McCloud County. Maggie felt they deserved the time spent alone. Especially with another new baby on the way. Scully felt her right hand drift down to her belly, which was just beginning to show signs of her pregnancy. After Mulder had turned down the offer from the FBI, they had decided to try conceiving another child with the six ova left, knowing the longer they were kept frozen, they less likely they were to be viable. Neither had held out much hope of it working, but they had given it a shot. They had made arrangements to have the ova sent to a specialist in Rapid from the clinic in Arizona where both Fox and Marisa had been conceived. Scully had gone on hormone therapy, and Mulder had spent one more afternoon in a little sterile room at the clinic, doing 'his half of the job', cell-phone in one hand, his privates in the other. Scully had, of course, been on the other end of the line at the time, as she had been every other time he had done his part. A week later, Scully had the fertilized ova implanted. A week after that, they were celebrating. Quietly. Neither forgot about her miscarriage years before. After Mulder's decision to stay in Lincoln, the McCloud County Council had named Fox Mulder as interim Sheriff. That November, he ran uncontested in the election. His only problem had been convincing the people to call him either Sheriff or Mulder, NOT Fox. "That's my son's name," he told them. He had worked over Christmas this year so that his two deputies, including the newly engaged Lucas, could spend it with their families. Everyone in town was preparing for Lucas and Kim's upcoming nuptials, which were scheduled for early May. Cat O'Neil and Justin Monroe, their partnership and friendship having survived Justin's slight betrayal, continued to keep both Mulder and Scully in the loop when it came to the X-Files, often calling to ask for advice or assistance. Mulder never had to leave home to help them. He never wanted to. Alicia Chase was still an agent with the Rapid City Field Office, but Remington had been promoted to SAC, and had moved to Denver. Since he was still Chase's superior, he still had contact with her quite often. More so than a SAC should have with one of his agents, Scully thought. She wondered when Alicia would figure it out. Dr. Megan Northam, having quit her job at Ft. Marlene before she was fired, was now working at the University of Iowa where she was helping to create cures for many serious animal diseases, including Laminitis in horses and Feline Leukemia. Jeremy, it appeared, had been thrilled to get away from the east coast. Scully wondered how he like the isolation of the prairie in Ames. The names Diana Fowley and Alex Krycek were never mentioned. In fact, they were rarely even thought of. They had no bearing on the lives she and Mulder lived now. And as for the name of CGB Spender...well. That was something that was thought about but never discussed. Not yet, anyway. Life was good. And, if she made it to her destination in one piece, it would get even better. Nearing the town of Custer, Scully turned off onto an old gravel road, following it past several granite peaks, a few lovely meadows still covered in snow, and several houses. She soon came upon her husband's Blazer, which was parked in the snow on the side of the road. Carefully, she parked her car next to it and got out. She had never been here in the winter before, and she glared at the footprints that lead from the truck up the snow-covered trail that passed the meeting place. With a sigh of exasperation, she began to trudge through the ankle deep snow to the Rock. Mulder was sitting on top of the boulders, casually looking off to the north, flicking the shells from his sunflower seeds off the steep side. Scully stopped behind him, hands on her hips. "There better be a good reason you had me meet you here, Mulder," she told him, knowing he was aware of her presence, even though he hadn't yet turned to face her. "It's cold. It's going to be dark soon. And there's a storm on the way in." "I know," he said with a smile as he stood and turned to look down at her. "Southern Hills are supposed to get up to 15 inches." "And that's a good thing?" Scully asked, eyebrows raised. Still grinning, Mulder climbed down from his perch. "Yep." He bent over her and gave her a quick kiss, then started walking back to their vehicles, leaving the lingering taste of salt, seeds and himself on her lips. "Where are you going?" she demanded, slowly following him. "To move your car," he said. "We wouldn't want it to be buried, then plowed under now, would we?" "We're just going to leave my car?" she asked. His only reply was another grin. Then, he reached out his hand. "Keys." Scully tossed him her keys, then watched as he got in the car. "I'll be right back. Wait in the Blazer." She climbed into the passenger side of the Blazer and folded her arms around herself. Noticing that he had left the keys in the ignition, she reached over and started it, turning the heater on high. The clouds were getting thicker, and she was getting more and more nervous. But, she knew that whatever Mulder had planned, he would protect her from the weather. Still, it was a long drive home. Mulder appeared, walking, from up the road. He got in and, without a word, backed out the truck and turned it up the road...the opposite direction from Custer, and therefore home. "Mulder?" "Hmmm?" "Where are we going?" "You'll see." "Mulder. This road leads into the Park." "Yep." "As I recall, it ends up joining with Needles Highway." "Right." "Which is closed during the winter. Except for snowmobiles." "We're not going that far," he said softly. Scully looked out her window, watching nervously as the snow began to fall. "Mulder. We're going to be stuck up here." "Yep." She shot him a sharp look, realization dawning. He may not have planned the snow, but he was glad it was falling. When he slowed and pulled onto a faint trail (she was not about to call it a road), she realized why. Sitting at the end of the trail was a small cabin, smoke already coming from its chimney. Scully knew without asking that it would be warm inside. She knew that there would be plenty of wood for the fire, and plenty to eat in the pantry. She shook her head and smiled. "Mulder." "Happy New Year, Scully." As they left the Blazer and headed for the cabin, neither of them noticed the silent creature observing them from the branch of an old oak tree. Wise brown eyes watched as the woman picked up some snow, created a ball with it, and threw it at her mate. He laughingly deflected it, then grabbed her swiftly, but carefully, around the waist, kissing her until her whole body seemed to go limp. "Cheater," she said breathlessly when he let up. Then, with a smile, she pulled away and entered the cabin. He was right on her heels. Though she wasn't physically capable, Wambli smiled. Then, shaking off the snow that had already accumulated on her head, she spread her wings and launched herself into the air. She would need to find shelter before the snow started to fall in earnest. No worries, she thought. She was well insulated from the cold, and her belly was full. By the time the storm was over, the only thing that would be bothering her would be inactivity. As she soared away from the little cabin waiting to be buried in the snow, she knew the couple there would not be having that problem any time soon. THE END How do you define normal?