Title:    Perfect Happiness (Part 3/4) 
Author:   Abigail 
E-MAIL:   littlemiss_spookymulder@hotmail.com 
Rating:   PG-13 
Category: MSR
Classification:  MSW-F
Keywords: Angst, Character Deaths
DISCLAIMER:  All characters from the X-Files belong 
the Chris 
Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and Fox 
Broadcasting.


Summary: "I guess there's just no such thing as perfect 
happiness…" Conclusion to story. 

Feedback is as precious as perfect happiness.

Xxxxxxx

Mulder watched Meredith intently. She was laying down, but 
conscious now. Her parents were bent over her, holding her hands 
and stroking her hair.

Scully came up behind him and slid an arm around him. "You 
okay?"

He nodded, looking into her eyes. "Do they know what's wrong?"

She took a deep breath. "Yes…Mulder, I don't know if you should 
hear this yet…it's very upsetting."

He squeezed her hand. "It's okay…tell me…"

Tears filled her eyes and came down her face. "Meredith's been 
having headaches, and her parents had no idea what they were for. 
Mulder, Meredith has an inoperable brain tumor."

Tears filled his own hazel eyes. "Can't they do something?"

She nodded. "They're going to try chemo, but they doubt it will 
work. If it doesn't work, they're giving her two months…" A tear 
rolled down her cheek. "She just had a headache…just wanted to 
lay down for a minute, Mulder…"

He took her in his arms and hugged her to him. She buried her face 
in his shoulder as sobs racked her body. "I can't promise it's going 
to be okay, Dana…" he whispered, "But I can say that we will get 
through this."

She spoke into his shoulder, "We've hardly had a chance to know 
her…and she's leaving…" she choked, "This is almost as bad as 
when Emily left."

He stroked her hair and buried his face in it. "I know, I 
know…we'll get through it, we will…"

She leaned back and he kissed her gently as he pulled her back into 
an embrace.

"I hope so…" she whispered.

XXXXXXX

The next day…

Mulder and Scully arrived at the hospital to see a young woman 
standing outside Meredith's room window, tears streaking her 
pretty face. She was tall, with light brown hair and green eyes.

She turned when they approached. "Oh, you must be Fox and Dana 
Mulder," she whispered. "I'm Christianna, Meredith's sister. She 
called me last night, told me what happened. I just," she paused, 
wiping a tear away. "I just can't believe this is really happening. 
She's dying…"

Scully whispered back, "We don't know that yet."

Christianna smiled a little. "Meredith told me last night, on the 
phone, that she knew she was dying. She knew they wouldn't be 
able to help her. She cares about you guys a lot, you know. Told 
me all about everything that had been happening with you two, you 
being her uncle…It's amazing. Just think, you may have never 
known her. I'm very glad she got to meet you, to know you."

Mulder smiled sadly. "We're very glad too."

Christianna impulsively reached out and hugged both of them. 
"We're going to get through this…we are…" she said softly, a 
smile breaking through her tears.

"We are…" Scully said as they hugged her back. "We will…"

XXXXXXX

A week later…

"I'm not afraid of dying, Mulder," Meredith said, sitting up in her 
bed. Her voice was raspy, weak.

He didn't answer, but tears filled his eyes at he response to his 
question.

She reached out and grabbed his hand. He felt the IV through her 
pale skin. She was so small now, so frail and fragile. The chemo, it 
didn't work very well. It only made her feel sick, and although she 
didn't lose her hair, she also didn't lose the tumor growing inside of 
her.

"You know what I'm afraid of?" she whispered.

"What?" The word was choked out.

"I get afraid when I'm in my hospital bed, alone at night, with no 
one around. And I never when it's going to happen. Five minutes 
from now, 5 hours, five days. I never know. I'm afraid that death is 
going to sneak up behind me and choke the life out of me before 
I'm ready."

He leaned over and hugged her. He could feel her protruding 
shoulder blades on his arms as he kissed the top of her head. His 
tears fell gently into her hair as she leaned back and cupped his 
face in both of her hands.

"Don't be sad, Mulder," she said, even as tears filled her own eyes 
and spilled down her face. "I'm not in any pain right now." She 
smiled sadly and looked into his eyes. "I just want to remind you 
of this. Just know that, when I do leave, I'm safe, with your 
mother, your father, and your sister. And I'll be free."

He wiped his eyes and whispered, "If you had one more wish, what 
would do with it?"

She smiled a little and raised her eyebrows. "I would forget the 
cancer for a day, and I would like to have one more good time. 
With you, with Scully, with little Will. With everyone. I would go 
to the beach one last time, so if I get lonely in heaven, I can just 
look back and remember it."

The tears had dried on his cheeks. He brushed back a strand of her 
hair and said, "I think that can be arranged."

XXXXXXX

A few days later…

"You know, Mulder, I didn't think you'd actually do it," Meredith 
said as she leaned back in her hospital issue wheelchair and smiled 
contentedly.

Mulder pushed the wheelchair across the sand. She needed one 
because going to the beach without one might take too much 
energy and rush the tumor's progress. It was a sunny day, not too 
sunny, but just right.

He put his fingers in her hair and said, "Of course I would."

She turned to face him and smiled again as she adjusted her 
swimming suit. "Thanks." Jack and Lela Brown got out of the car, 
Scully and Christianna following close behind them. Christianna 
held William's hands as he walked. He was much steadier now and 
needed only a little help so he wouldn't fall in the sand. He smiled 
and showed some of the teeth that had grown in since his first 
birthday about a month earlier.

Once they were all seated at a picnic table, all was silent. William 
laughed and pointed to Meredith and he said, "Merry."

Meredith smiled back and said, "Willie."

She broke the silence after another minute and said, "What are you 
all so sad about? Let's have a fun day at the beach. I wanna go 
swimming, Uncle Mulder."

Her mom spoke up. "Meredith, sweetheart, I don't-"

Mulder interrupted. "It's okay. I'll take her out there."

Lela nodded and leaned up against her husband. Christianna smiled 
to herself. Little Meredith really loved her uncle Mulder.

Everyone watched as Mulder helped Meredith out of her 
wheelchair and steadied her with his arms. To their surprise, she 
started walking, a little slowly, but she walked all the way to the 
shoreline without any help.

Mulder took hold of her arm as they reached the shore. She smiled 
up at him. "Ready to swim?"

He nodded. "Can you make it, or do you need help?"

"Help me, please. I don't want to meet my death drowning." She 
giggled softly as he turned around and she climbed onto his back. 
She slid her arms around his neck and laughed. "This is fun, uncle 
Mulder."

He smiled even as hot tears threatened his eyes. She was so small, 
that it didn't even feel like he was holding her. More like he was 
waiting for her to jump on. But he didn't want to cry. This was 
going to be her good time, he reminded himself.

He walked out a little ways, until the water reached his waist. 
Meredith kicked her feet a little and splashed water in his face. He 
laughed as he brought her around and set her on her feet, keeping 
his hands on her upper arms so she wouldn't fall.

She splashed around a little and then she actually moved away and 
swam a little circle around him. At his puzzled look, she said, "I'm 
not too weak yet!"

He laughed as she dunked under the water and grabbed his leg, 
then came back up giggling as she wiped the hair from her eyes. 
"I'm glad we came here, Mulder," she whispered.

"Me too," he smiled.

"You know what, Uncle Mulder?"

"Yeah?"

She smiled at him again. "You're my favourite person. I never 
thought that when I met you on that airplane, that things would be 
like this."

He beamed down at her and pulled her into a hug. "I'm very 
honored."

Christianna watched from the distance as Mulder and Meredith 
swam around together, him occasionally touching her arms or 
holding her up so she could catch her breath. She smiled inwardly, 
even as the pain crept up and squeezed on her heart. It was only a 
matter of time before she passed. That she was feeling better and 
stronger was a near miracle. But it would be short-lived.

Tears filled her green eyes and she brushed them away as she tried 
not to think about that fateful day.

She looked over at her parents and Scully. They seemed to be 
feeling the same way, all wiping their eyes even as they smiled. 
William seemed to be the only one not affected. He smiled and 
laughed and said, "Daddy" or "Merry" over and over as he watched 
them play.

Mulder and Meredith soon came back up onto the sand, smiles 
lighting both of their faces.

Lela pulled out a camera and a little stand and said, "How about a 
few pictures?"

Meredith beamed. "Oh yes, Mom."

They all sat down on a blanket together as Lela set up the little 
camera stand and set the timer.

They all smiled as the flash went off. They took more pictures, 
including one with just Meredith and the Mulder family.

Later that evening, as they all piled back into the Brown's white 
caravan to head home, Meredith whispered, "Thank you for 
bringing me here, Uncle Mulder."

He smiled over at her. "No problem."

She just smiled again as her mother helped her into the car. When 
they were all in, she said happily, "This is the best last wish I've 
ever had!"

Everyone stopped talking and looked at her, sadness in their eyes.

"Sorry," she whispered. "It's just...today has been so great, and I 
know I'll always remember it. When I go to heaven, I'm gonna tell 
everyone about it, so they can know how happy I am right now."

Scully reached back and hugged her. "Oh, god, Meredith..."

"Don't be sad," she said back. "it's okay. I'm okay."

Lela smiled a little. "We love you, Merry."

William babbled, "Love Merry."

Meredith smiled. "I'm glad I get to know all of you."

Christianna grinned. "We're glad too."

Meredith's stomach growled suddenly and she laughed. "Let's go 
get something to eat, okay?"

Jack was about to ask what when she gripped her temples and 
winced. "Are you okay, honey?" he asked.

She closed her eyes and then snapped them open. "Yeah," she said. 
"I'm okay now. I'm okay."

Jack nodded, backing down as they continued the journey home in 
silence.

XXXXXXX

2 Months Later…

"She's almost to the point," the doctor said as Mulder, Scully, 
Christianna, and the Browns took a seat in the waiting room. 
"She's extremely weak. I think it'll be a matter of a few days before 
she's gone. We're all very lucky that she's been here this long."

Lela Brown buried her face in her hands and sobbed as her 
husband put his arms around her, tears filling his eyes.

Christianna wiped tears from her own eyes and whispered, "Can 
we see her?"

"Yes," the doctor said. "But only for very short amounts of time."

Jack, Lela, and Christianna took a first turn. Mulder turned to 
Scully and said, "I can't believe this is really happening."

"Me neither, Mulder," she said quietly.

He pulled her into a hug and buried his face into her hair as she 
asked, "You okay, Mulder?"

"No," he whispered. "But I know we'll be okay. Someday."

XXXXXXX

"I'm going to miss you guys," Meredith whispered from her laying 
down position. It was all she could do these days, lay down and 
whisper.

Scully reached for her thin hand. "We're going to miss you too."

Meredith squeezed Scully's hand. "Tell Willie I loved him, okay?"

Mulder nodded as he came in to take her other hand.

"Mulder," Meredith whispered. "I'm really glad I got to know you 
both. And I'm glad that you have a perfect happiness now. I 
wouldn't trade what we have for anything. Not even life."

Tears filled Scully's eyes and trailed down her face, matching 
Mulder's. "Oh, god, Merry, we're going to miss you…"

Meredith's face crumpled, and the three fell into a sad embrace 
together as they cried for what may have been a beautiful, 
promising life someday…

XXXXXXX

One week later…

"We are gathered here today to mourn the passing of Meredith 
Emilie Brown. She was a strong individual, and she never gave up 
her fight, even in the very end." The minister said as he stood 
behind Meredith's short, white casket, adorned with flowers and 
notes. Scully sat in the front row, wearing all black. Something 
similar to what she had worn to Mulder's funeral. How she wished 
that this was like that, that she wasn't really dead and could be 
brought back after not too much time away.

But this wasn't like that. Being at her viewing brought out a cruel 
reality that she was never coming back.

Mulder sat next to her, wearing his only black tux besides his 
wedding one. He couldn't believe that Meredith had passed away. 
Tears filled his eyes as soon as he remembered her, at the wedding, 
at the beach, the look on her face when she swam in the ocean with 
him.

Now he saw her, her face pale, her eyes closed, never to be opened 
again. Wearing a light blue strappy sundress, draped loosely over 
her slender shoulders. Her mother's engagement ring adorned her 
tiny finger. Her mother had always promised her that one day she 
could wear it. Now she would wear it forever.

Her hair had been let down, curled just the way she liked it, with 
face framing spirals, a few little sprigs of baby's breath nestled in 
it. A peaceful smile had settled over her face. Maggie was taking 
care of William for the day so they could properly mourn. He and 
Scully had already made plans to go home after the funeral and 
sleep for the rest of the day.

He slipped an arm around Scully and hugged her closer as she 
leaned her head on his chest, and they cried silently together.

XXXXXXX

Later that day…

"Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. We are here to deliver the body of 
Meredith Brown to its resting-place…"

Scully rolled over in bed and held tight to Mulder's stomach. She 
couldn't sleep, and her mind constantly replayed the scenes of the 
burial, and Lela Brown's face as she handed them a memory box 
with some of Meredith's things in it, things she'd wanted them to 
have.

After the burial, they had driven home in near silence, not even 
stopping to look in the beloved box. They'd immediately changed 
into bedclothes and jumped in, cuddling until Mulder had fallen 
asleep, tears streaking his face.

Scully wasn't so lucky. She couldn't sleep at all, and a little 
nagging voice in her head told her to get up and look in the box. 
But she couldn't. Not until Mulder woke up. She put her head on 
his bare chest and nuzzled her face in his warmth. It felt nice to 
comfort him, and it helped her comfort herself in the process.

She felt him twitch a little, and a small smile crossed his face. He 
must be dreaming. She closed her eyes and tried hard to sleep, and 
eventually it came in a haze of tears and sadness.

XXXXXXX

~~~ She was there, standing before him. In her little blue sundress 
and her hair curled in spirals with baby's breath nestled between 
the strands. Him in just his pajama pants, and yet somehow he 
didn't care.

They were in a garden, a beautiful one with paths and a little 
stream.

"I…I thought you were dead," he choked.

"But I am, Mulder," she said matter-of-factly, her voice echoing 
through the greenery, sounding distant, and yet close. "I know 
you're sad, and it hurts. Mulder, I can take you away from the 
pain." She held out her tiny hands, and he saw the engagement ring 
on her finger.

"How?" he whispered.

"Take my hands." She blinked slowly, and stretched out her hands 
to him again.

He engulfed her tiny hand in his, gently as she led him away, down 
endless paths, and through time.

Suddenly the garden disappeared, and was replaced by a beach, on 
a sunny day.

She let go of his hand and smiled. "Do you know where we are?"

"Our beach," was all he said as he looked around.

She grinned. "Yes. When I was in my hospital bed, I told you I 
would always remember this day. And now that God watches over 
me, it can become my own little reality. Come, walk with me."

They began a slow walk down the beach in silence. Meredith 
turned to him and looked up into eyes that mirrored her own. 
"Mulder?"

"Yes?"

"I know you're afraid. I know you're tired and worn and beaten 
down and sad. But don't be. I'm happy here, Mulder. God, he 
speaks to me here. He brings me to our beach and he tells me 
stories. I tell him about you, and he always listens, even though he 
knows everything. Mulder, I know you have a lot of pain living 
inside of you, but you have to go on. Look through the memory 
box, Mulder."

He smiled down at her and touched her face. She gripped his hand 
as it moved down her face.

"It's time for me to go now," she said. "Always remember, I'm with 
you. And when you get lonely, just remember the beach, and how 
great it was."

He nodded as three people appeared behind Meredith. His family.

No, four. A tiny baby girl was nestled in his sister's loving arms.

"Samantha," Mulder whispered.

She turned back to them for a moment. "They can neither see nor 
hear you. But you can know that they are all right."

Samantha stroked the baby's soft brown locks of hair and cooed, 
"Brianna, I love you."

He turned puzzled eyes to the Meredith.

She smiled, "Yes, Mulder. She's your daughter. Scully always 
wanted to name a girl Brianna. So they did."

Meredith hugged Mulder, and he buried his face in her hair, taking 
in her scent for the last time.

She leaned back and smiled at him again. "Goodbye, Uncle 
Mulder."

He looked down at her as she began to fade away. "This is the best 
dream I've ever had."

And then she disappeared, and all he heard was her whisper soft 
voice, beckoning, smiling down on him as he stood on the beach, 
facing upward, towards the heaven of which she spoke.

"This isn't a dream." ~~~

XXXXXXX

About 1 year later… . He rolled over in bed, lazily reaching out for 
Scully. But to his surprise, she wasn't there. Over their time of 
marriage, he had learned that she liked to stay in bed and snuggle 
until William ran into their room, half dressed in a little baseball 
uniform and carrying his t-ball bat. Screaming "Daddy, daddy, 
come play with me!"

He loved William so much. Even though neither of them were ever 
quite sure how he was conceived, he truly felt like William's 
father. And he was.

Mulder stretched out on his back and pulled the pillow out from 
underneath his head, resting it on his chest and squeezing it as he 
began to close his eyes, fully intent on sleeping for a few more 
hours.

And then he heard it. A muffled sob, coming from the master 
bathroom.

He rolled out of bed quickly and padded across the carpet to the 
bathroom where he saw her, bent over the sink, holding something 
in her hand.

Her shoulders shuddered slightly, and he walked up behind her and 
put his hands on her shoulders. She started slightly and turned 
around, tears in her blue eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She started to say something when another sob shook her body.

"What?" he asked again. "Scully…"

She lifted teary eyes to his and smiled. "Mulder, I'm…I'm 
pregnant."

"Oh my god, Scully…" he said, pulling her into a hug.

"I was suspecting it for awhile, but I was too afraid to see if it was 
true. So, I did a test. Look, Mulder," she said, holding up a home 
test. "We're going to have a baby!" she smiled. "A baby. I don't 
know how, but we are."

He hugged her tight and kissed her forehead. "Oh, Scully, I love 
you..."

She smiled up at him again as little William, half dressed in a little 
baseball uniform and carrying his t-ball bat, screamed, "Daddy, 
daddy, come play with me!"

XXXXXXX

Nearly 8 months later...

"Oh, Anna, you shouldn't have!" Scully exclaimed as she walked 
into the living room of her home. "Today was great."

Anna walked into the room and said, "I know. But I wanted to, 
Aunt Dana!" She continued walking around and turned suddenly, 
her own growing stomach sticking out just slightly. She put a hand 
to it and said, "We're just lucky that Daniel decided to go with 
Mulder and William to the batting cages, or he might have been 
trailing behind us all day! He's been so worried lately, about the 
pregnancy and everything."

Scully moved over to Anna and hugged her around the shoulders. 
"Anna, he's just protective of you now that you're going to have his 
baby. Mulder has been the same way with this little one, since he 
wasn't there too much with William. But, you're right, it is good to 
finally have them out of our hair for a day! Besides, I doubt they 
would have wanted to go out to lunch and baby shopping."

Anna giggled softly. "Aunt Dana, I never thought this would 
happen so soon. Me, married, pregnant, you pregnant again. God, 
it seems so weird."

"It won't after you have more," Scully replied. "Believe me, I don't 
feel strange at all now. I thought it would be like with Will, but it 
hasn't been. It's been great to have Mulder tell me how good I look, 
even though I feel like crap."

Anna smiled. "Yeah, that's a plus side. Oh, wait, I forgot 
something." She went to one of her shopping bags and pulled out a 
box. "I just had to buy this. I've been craving it for so long, it isn't 
even funny!"

Scully lifted the lid. Chocolate cake, fudge frosting. "Mmm, Anna, 
have you read my mind?"

"Maybe I have. Or maybe Mulder told me you like chocolate cake 
and I should get us some." She laughed. "Now, let me at that 
cake!"

XXXXXXX

At the batting cages…

"I think I'm getting old," Mulder said as Daniel threw William a t-
ball in the little kid's area. "I need breaks more and more often."

Daniel Stone just laughed as he watched William drop the bat in 
frustration as he missed the pitch. "Yeah, you are an old man, 
Mulder. How old are you now, 47? Or was it 57?"

"That's not as bad as what Scully said to me on my last birthday," 
Mulder replied. "She sang me "Happy Birthday" and then told me I 
needed 60 spankings, that's how old I was. Although, I did enjoy 
them…especially since she let me spank *her* afterward…" he 
smirked and raised both eyebrows. "I think she liked hers more 
than I liked mine."

Daniel turned to face Mulder. He had blonde-brown hair and light 
green eyes, and a tan to top it off. He was strong, with a muscular 
build and a perfect physique. "I'm sure you did. Hell, who 
wouldn't? But on my birthday, Anna doesn't give spankings. She 
gives kisses. Lots of them."

Mulder said, "But does she let you spank her?"

William picked up the t-ball and threw it back to Daniel, who 
caught it easily. He shook his head good-naturedly. "Nope."

Mulder threw up his hands. "I win!" To which Daniel smiled.

"Well," Daniel said. "I wonder what the girls are up to now..."

XXXXXXX

"So, Anna, my favourite niece, you never did tell me how you and 
Daniel met. After all, you've been married for nearly 9 months," 
Scully said as they sat at the table, drinking herbal tea together.

"Well," Anna began. "It was at a mutual friend's party. I think she 
actually invited both of us for certain…purposes, you know how 
friends are about that kind of thing. Anyway, she made sure we 
bumped into each other. We got to talking about everything; it 
turns out his father's also in the Navy. We had so much in common 
and we got along great. So, Daniel asked me to dinner with him. 
He took me out a few times, it was great. Aunt Dana, I really felt 
that he cared for me and that we went well together. We got so 
close over that year, it was just amazing. I remember the way he 
proposed..."

"How was it?" Scully asked.

"Very..." she paused, giving Scully a smirk. "Unromantic. I swear, 
he didn't know anything about proposing at all! He took me into 
his house, and we were drinking champagne, and he just looked at 
me and said, "So...how'd you like to get married?" It was the 
worst! But you know what?"

"What?"

"I absolutely loved him for it! It was sweet, albeit...different. And 
it's been the best nine months of my life," she finished.

"Ah, Anna, you're so lucky to have Daniel," Scully said.

"And Mulder's no used car, either. He loves you so much. You 
should just see the way he still looks at you, with that puppy dog 
stare. And those adorable eyes. He practically drools. The love just 
radiates from him." Anna smiled.

Scully smiled and took a sip of tea. "Yeah, I am lucky to have him. 
You know, he's my best friend. It's a good feeling to know that I 
get him for the rest of my life."

Anna put a hand to her stomach. "I know how you feel. Me and 
Daniel...I could never imagine sharing what we share with anyone 
else, you know?"

Scully just nodded, then gripped her stomach as a pain swept 
through it. "Oh, god...Anna..."

"What is it? The baby?" she realized.

She nodded again. "Anna, we have to get Mulder..."

XXXXXXX

William dropped his bat again, this time not out of anger but out of 
surprise. He ran to Mulder and Daniel, who were now sitting on a 
bench together, talking, letting the automatic ball thrower pitch to 
William.

"Daddeeeeeeee!!!!" he yelled as he jumped onto his father's lap.

"What is it Tiger? Are you hurt?" Mulder asked, checking him for 
injuries.

William shook his head frantically. "Mommy and Auntie Anna 
need us to go home..."

Mulder stood up quickly and took his son by the arms. "How do 
you know that?"

William's eyes widened. "I heard it, Daddy. In my head…"

XXXXXXX

"I can't push any more," Scully breathed.

"Yes, you can, Scully," Mulder said almost frantically, gripping 
her hand tighter as he kneeled next to her hospital bed. "You can 
do it. It's almost over."

He reached over with his free hand and swiped back a piece of hair 
from her damp forehead. God, if he knew it'd be this bad, he 
wouldn't have asked to stay in on the birth. Like he'd ever 
witnessed one, anyways...but when he'd seen the look on her face, 
pleading with him to stay with her, he couldn't resist. And he had 
had no idea of what was to come.

Suddenly, another pain seized her and she squeezed his hand so 
hard it went numb.

"Ohhhhh," Mulder whimpered.

"AHHHHHHH!" she screamed as the doctor ordered her to push 
harder.

Mulder tried counting to ten to help. "1...2..ow!...3...oooooww!"

"Push again, Dana!" The doctor ordered as he reached around to 
hold her leg steady. as she pushed, he turned to Mulder. "Want to 
see?"

Mulder leaned forward just in time to see a tiny baby slide out of 
Scully and into the doctor's waiting hands. He immediately started 
wiping it off and suctioning out the amniotic fluids.

Mulder almost puked just seeing that, but at the same time, it was a 
beautiful thing. He felt unexpected tears sting the backs of his eyes 
as Scully leaned back on the pillows and took in a few gasping 
breaths.

An ear piercing shriek filled the air as the baby began to cry.

"It's a girl!" The doctor exclaimed. "Here, dad, cut the cord."

Mulder let go of Scully and went around to look at his daughter. 
She was so little, skinny and wrinkly and red and to most people 
she would be ugly, but to him she was the most beautiful creature 
he had ever seen.

He took the scissors from the doctor and gingerly cut the cord, 
wincing at the feel of it between the scissors blades.

The doctor whisked the baby away to clean her off, and Mulder 
returned to his spot by Scully. He stroked her hair gently and she 
smiled up at him.

"We did it, Scully," he said softly. "She's so beautiful. Wait till you 
see her."

They heard a long, shrieking wail from the baby. "She's going to 
be a loud one," Scully commented, laughing a little.

The doctor brought her back, wrapped in a baby blanket, with a 
little pink hat on her head for warmth.

Scully lifted it off and touched her head. A few auburn wisps 
settled at the top of her head.

Mulder smiled and stroked her head gently. "Oh, Scully, she's so 
beautiful."

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head, and she 
immediately gave a little yawn and closed her eyes.

Mulder and Scully exchanged a look, and then laughed quietly as 
they watched her.

"So, what are you going to name her, Mr. and Mrs. Mulder?" The 
baby doctor asked, smiling at them with dark brown eyes.

"We don't kn-" Scully started, but Mulder cut her off with one 
word, as Maggie brought William in to see the baby. He was 
enamored, immediately wanting to hold and cuddle her.

"Meredith," he said softly. "Meredith Emilie."

XXXXXXX

About 2 months later...

"Oh, Anna, she's beautiful!" Scully exclaimed as she cradled the 
new Christine Stone in her arms. She was a pretty baby, with soft 
skin and blue eyes. Of course, all baby's eyes change colors before 
they get older, so Scully couldn't help but wonder if hers would 
too.

Anna grinned widely as she cuddled little Meredith close to her. 
She leaned back against the hospital issue pillows and sighed. 
"Geez, Aunt Dana, how did you do that? *Twice*? I had a bad 
time, I don't ever want to do that. Again!"

"Oh, you'll want to do it over and over," Scully assured her. 
"They're such a joy. Meredith's even sleeping all night, and 
Mulder's so excited about her, he gets up every time she awakes 
and brings her to bed so I don't even have to get up!"

Anna laughed. "I hope Dan does that for me. It would make it a lot 
easier," she smiled, her eyes shining.

Scully grinned back at her. "Well, I know he will. He loves you so 
much Anna."

"And Mulder loves you. He seems to be the perfect husband. And 
you seem to have a perfect life now."

Scully laughed. "In time, my little Anna, you will realize that there 
is no such thing as perfect..."

XXXXXXX

About a month later…September 2004…11:02 PM…

"Mulder?" Scully rolled over to face him, taking his hands in hers 
and leaning her head on his chest.

"Yeah?"

"Do…do you ever think about Meredith?" She asked as he kissed 
the top of her head and ran his fingers through her hair.

"Of course I do," he answered, putting a finger under her chin, 
tilting her head to his. "A lot."

"I can't believe how long it's been," she said quietly as she released 
his hands to rub his shoulders gently.

He kissed her softly and pulled back. "More than two years. I still 
miss her."

She smiled a little. "I do too. But, like she told you, she's in a better 
place now, taking care of our daughter."

Mulder smiled back. "Sometimes, I wish I could go back to the 
place she took me to, talk to her again. You know, we never did go 
through that box."

He trailed a finger down her cheek and leaned forward to press soft 
kisses to her face, neck, and shoulders.

She sighed and ran her fingers through his hair. "Some things are 
better left unopened…you know, Mulder, I remember, when you 
first came back, I thought everything would be perfect. Perfect 
happiness. And look at what's happened. It's so far from my 
dreams of a little house with a white picket fence, and a perfect 
life. But, I guess…I guess there's just no such thing as perfect. And 
now, we have a three-year-old and a four month old, Mulder. I 
never thought it possible…"

He kissed her neck lightly and moved up to her face. As he kissed 
her eyelids and her nose, he whispered, "But maybe…maybe that's 
our own perfect happiness…"

XXXXXXX

They sat on the beach together, at her beach, watching the waves 
gently lapping at their golden feet. The light surrounding them was 
even more intensifying in this spot, in their spot, she liked to call it. 
She knew she was his favourite child, she could feel it, which is 
why she could ask of him anything.

"Tell me a story," she said softly. "Tell me about my cousins. How 
are they?"

She stared up into his golden face, hearing his voice in her head, 
telling about them. He'd fallen and chipped a tooth; she'd smiled at 
her mommy for the first time.

"What about my aunt and uncle?" she smiled at him.

She listened again to his beautiful voice in her head. He'd dreamed 
of her and wondered if she was really there. She'd never looked in 
the memory box.

She reached up and touched his face. "Thank you. You don't know 
what it means to me to hear of them again."

He nodded and she knew he was smiling back at her. But there is 
something else you wish for, child, she heard him say.

"Yes, there is. An even greater question, Master. Please, I must go 
back, if only for five minutes," she said softly as she shifted in his 
lap. "I want to see the little ones. I want to somehow let them know 
that I'm okay. Please?" She looked down, fingering her mother's 
tiny engagement ring as she awaited the response.

An aureate hand reached down and touched her fair locks, still 
curled gently. And he just nodded again. Yes, child.

She smiled and hugged him. "Thank you." And then she was gone, 
leaving him to sit on the beach alone, watching his creations, the 
seagulls, and the water.

XXXXXXX

Meredith Emilie Brown bent over her namesake's bassinet, 
watching her sleep. How badly she ached to reach down and touch 
those downy soft auburn locks, those baby cheeks.

But not now. It couldn't be.

Meredith held up her hand in front of the infant's face, and saw the 
sleeping child right through it. She sang softly, hoping the baby 
could hear her somehow.

"Michael row the boat ashore…Hallelujah…Michael row the boat 
ashore, Hallelujah…"

She smiled down at the baby. "Merry, someday, you'll know who I 
was. That I love you very much. You will look in the memory box 
someday. You will, Meredith Emilie Mulder."

She watched the baby for one more moment before moving on.

She walked slowly to William's room, and she watched him 
lovingly, as he rolled over in his toddler bed and sighed.

Meredith smiled to herself. "I love you Willie," she whispered.

"Love, Merry…" he whispered.

Meredith smiled to herself, and she blew him a kiss as she left.

She made her way to Mulder and Scully's room. They were 
sleeping, bodies close, foreheads touching gently in their slumber. 
Meredith smiled even as tears filled her eyes.

"I miss you so much…Someday, I will see you all again…"

She smiled to herself as she began to disappear. Looks like the five 
minutes were up. "I love you all…May you have perfect 
happiness."

And then she was gone.

Somehow, in the cold night's wind, her voice could be heard, 
singing a soft lullaby to her cousins, giving new warmth and 
blessing to their home.

And somewhere, up in the attic, sat a box, unopened, filled with a 
legacy. Her legacy. A lock of blonde hair, a photo album.

A memory.

XXXXXXX

THE END

Story Continued:

Book 2: The Life They Now Lead 

Book 3: A New Beginning