ECLIPSE
EPILOGUE
Scully's Apartment
Washington, D.C.
August 3, 2000
Scully slips off her shoes and settles into the century-old Queen Anne
chair.
The creation of mahogany and cornflower upholstery has been passed to three
generations since her great-grandmother bought it for her first home in
America. Although it is not very comfortable, Scully needs its history and
stability now. It has survived ages. She needs to be reminded that she
will too.
A hand on her slightly-curved stomach reminds her of the generations to
come.
Though she can never be certain, she now believes their child was conceived
on the night she and Mulder made love in this chair. They had made a
commitment to one another over a bottle of wine, then came home and made a
baby together.
That moment will carry her through the days, months, years to come.
Memories of touching his skin, seeing his smile, sliding a ring on his
finger.
Today she wears widow's black for the funeral, but nobody knows the true
significance behind it but herself and her mother. Margaret Scully mourns
Mulder just as deeply as a son-in-law as she has as a dear friend. Perhaps
someday she will share the story of that morning at Lake Tahoe with the
world, but not yet. It is her and Mulder's beautiful secret. The world
knows too much of their lives; the most perfect moment of her life is
something she wants to keep to herself.
Scully pulls the green candy and plastic ring out of her pocket. Although
Mulder had been unclothed when they discovered him, she found the ring on
the forest floor next to him. Of all the things for his abductors to
return, they would choose the one that appeared to have the least
significance, but which she would guard and treasure the rest of her life.
Glancing over at her bedside table, she sees the framed photograph of their
wedding. Displaying it is her boldest move, but then nobody has entered her
bedroom since Mulder. Through squinting eyes she sees two people in love,
smiling at each other against a backdrop of mountains and a cool spring
morning.
She rubs her stomach with her free hand, and thinks of the child who will
never know her or his father. Eight years of dear memories to share in bits
and pieces with their child, whispered over cups of morning juice or a
bedtime story.
Perhaps the first memory she will share is of the precious few days when she
and Mulder were truly happy.
+++++
END (8/8)
all4mulder@aol.com
alanna@alanna.net
Authors' notes: We owe beta thanks to a lot of people. To Blackwood and Narida Law for
squeezing us into their busy schedules. To Jintian, Kristy, and Mish for
sticking with us through the whole saga. And to Musea, for keeping it real.
