Baby Mine by Aimee Cronan

Mine.  She was mine.

On shaky legs I moved to the table nearby and spread everything out so
I could read it better.  Emily was really mine.  I could hear my
brother and mother's voices mixing behind me, but there were only
two faces in my mind.  The large blue eyes of my little girl and the
green ones of my best friend.  I needed him here now.

*  *  *  *

"Mulder, I need you here.  There's something I...I need you here
with me now."  The memory of her voice over the phone had haunted Mulder
the entire trip.  He had found the first flight out and was now
on the short drive to Bill Scully's house as fast as the car would
let him.  Scully needed him.  He had to get there.

Driving up into the driveway, he saw Mrs. Scully waiting for him.

"She's not here.  She went to the hospital.  I'll go with you and
show you where."

"Is she okay?  Has it..."  he couldn't finish the question.

"Oh God Mulder, no she's fine.  As fine as she could be right now.  She
didn't tell you over the phone?  She found a little girl during a
murder investigation.  It's her daughter."

*    *    *    *

I had never felt skin so soft.  Cheeks so chubby that they looked
like she was storing acorns in them.  "Chipmunk cheeks,"  I cooed,
smiling down into the bright blue eyes that opened at the sound of my
voice.

Her eyes filled with tears as she realized she no longer was wearing
the cross.  "Necklace," said the little voice.

"It's okay," I crooned.  "I have it right here.  See?  I'm putting it
right back on you.  Everything's okay.  I'm here now."  Her eyes
were so trusting looking at me.  Her arms clung onto my neck as I pulled
her into my lap to give her a hug.  She wouldn't let go and I didn't
push her too.  It felt too right.  She fit exactly as if she had been
built to fit there.

     "Baby mine, don't you cry
      Baby mine, dry your eyes.
      Rest your head close to my heart,
       Never to part
      Baby of mine."

The song came straight from my heart as I rocked her back and forth.
I just sat holding her as she fell back asleep in the safety of my arms.  I
never noticed the tears on my face until Mulder wiped them off.

*    *    *    *

I found her holding Emily in her lap on the bed.  She had her eyes
closed and tears were streaming down her cheeks.  Her eyes opened in
surprise as I wiped them away and when I looked into them, I knew that
I had to do everything in my power to help this little girl.  There
was so much love and despiration in Scully's eyes, I knew that this was
one Christmas present that I had to guard as if it were crystal and might
break.

"Mulder," she gasped as she realized who I was.

"Merry Christmas Mom," I whispered back, as I gently stroked Emily's
hair.  It was as golden as the sun and as soft as silk.  She was a
beautiful baby.  Scully's entire face lit up at the words and the look she gave
the little girl in her embrace was enough to make my heart weep for the
beauty of it.  A true Madonna and child on Christmas.  Emily stirred
at the noise around her and tightented her grasp on Scully's neck.

"Mommy?" a voice slurred with sleep asked.  I watched as Scully rubbed her
back and cradled her back and forth, whispering nonscence to coax her back to
sleep.  When she had settled back down, Scully's hand crept off of her
back and found mine on the bed beside her.  We sat like that for
hours entranced by the miracle in front of us.  There were questions
to be answered, but for now we were content with the one in front
of us.  The question was love and the answer was right in front
of us.

End.