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<![CDATA[
Title: A Cold Night
Author: Girlie_girl7
EM: Girlie_girl74@yahoo.com
Rating: G
Category: Maggie and William fic
Spoilers: Existence then AU
Disclaimer: Fox owns 'em
Date: 12-12-02
Archive: Anywhere
A Cold Night
The day has been blue and blustery with skiffs of snow
snaking across the icy roads. Maggie Scully is safe
and warm, snuggled in her Cape Cod style home while
her grandson visits for a few hours.
"Come on William, let grandma take off your coat,"
Maggie says as she carries the little boy into the
living room. "Your mother has you dressed in the
cutest snowsuit and cap but it is a bit warm."
Maggie pulls the baby's chubby arm out of the
light-blue jacket and unsnaps the small brimmed cap
held snuggly in place under his chin.
She pulls off the hat releasing a head full of
reddish-brown hair. Wills' blue eyes pop wide open at
the crackling sound of the static charged dry air.
"Woo, did that surprise you!" Maggie laughs as she
pats down the soft strands of wayward baby hair. She continues to
undress Will then scoops him up. "So you get to stay with grandma
while mom and dad Christmas shop huh." ]]><![CDATA[ Will looks' up at his grandmother and pokes two long fingers into his mouth.
Maggie heads to the kitchen carrying the baby and the
diaper bag.
"Let me put your bottles in the fridge, then I have a
surprise for you; grandma made vegetable soup. You'll like that."
The baby rubs his nose with his fist and coughs. "Mom
said you had a cold." Will's eyes tear up and as if
on cue he sneezes.
"Well that was a big one!" Maggie laughs as she sets
him in the white, wooden highchair that has been the throne to
all the Scully children before Will. She secures him
in the chair and pulls over the diaper bag.
Will lifts' himself up to peer into the bag. "You're
as nosy as your father," Maggie smiles at him. She pulls out
four baby bottles of formula looking surprised, "Goodness Will, how long
does your mother think you're going to be here!"
She sets the bottles on the counter and digs a little
deeper into the bag. Out comes a Zip-lok bag of dry cereals and
baby biscuits. ]]><![CDATA["Well your mother is nothing if not efficient, but I
do have cereal in the house," Maggie shakes her head.
Will' continues to look into the diaper bag. "Durr,"
he babbles and points. Maggie pulls out a ring of
plastic keys, a rubber duck and a soft cloth truck.
Will grins and blows out a snot bubble. Maggie grabs
a napkin off the counter and gently tries to clean the
baby's nose but Will refuses' to let her rub it.
"Aw baby is your nose sore?"
Maggie digs deeper into the diaper bag and this time
pulls out a little tube of ointment and laughs, "I knew this had
to be in there somewhere."
Unscrewing the lid, Maggie puts some of the medicine
on Will's chapped face. He tries to pull away,
wrinkling his forehead and growling. "My William!
You sound just like your mother when she was small."
Maggie screws the lid back on the tube and looks into
two large blue, watery eyes. She pats Wills' fuzzy
head and runs her hand down his back.
She turns to the cupboard and takes out a flat bowl,
filling it half full of soup. She then grabs a small
spoon from a drawer. Will's been watching her every
movement. Maggie glances back at him, "You've got your
fathers observant manner though." She turns toward the
baby with the bowl in her hand. Will already has his
mouth open. "And his appetite too," she laughs.
She sets the bowl down on the tray and Will starts to
grab it. "No,no baby. Let grandma do it," Maggie softly says.
Will acquiesces and lets Maggie pick up the spoon. She takes a small
amount of soup and puts it to Wills' lips. He clamps
his tiny enamel beauties on the bowl of the spoon and draws back. Maggie laughs,
"You like that!" Will smacks his lips and grins at her, his
nose running again.
Maggie grabs another napkin and tries to wipe Wills'
nose but he shakes his head and frowns. She finally gets his nose
and gently wipes it. He is suddenly racked with a cough and
starts to whimper. Maggie lifts another spoonful of
soup to his mouth. He accepts it and swallows, then opens his mouth again. "That's
it!" Maggie smiles at her grandson.
Will kicks' his white leather baby shoe against the
chair leg in a rhythmic beat known only to babies as
Maggie spoons more soup into her grandchild's mouth. He looks around the kitchen
and points at nothing in particular, babbling as if he
has a statement to make. Maggie laughs at his
seriousness and places a few oyster crackers on his
tray. He gently picks up one of the tiny crackers and
chews on it, then grabs another one and stuffs it into his
mouth. He pats the tray causing a few crackers to bounce off landing on
the floor. Will looks down at the mess and then back up at Maggie
with wide, blue eyes and a little red nose and says, "Oh oh."
Maggie laughs at the shocked look on the little boys'
face and bends over to pick up the crackers. Will
chooses' that moment to grab two fistfuls of his
grandmother's hair.
Maggie jerks up with a start, "William, let go of
grandma's hair!"
He isn't budging and Maggie can't reach his tiny
hands. Finally she manages to offer him one of the
crackers she's just picked up off the floor. Will
surrenders and releases her hair. She quickly draws
the dirty cracker back, making William mad. He kicks
the chair leg and sticks out his full bottom lip.
"Let me guess, that's the same look your dad uses on
your mom."
Maggie places a few fresh crackers on the tray. Will
snatches' them up quickly stuffing them into his mouth; he grins at
his grandma. He finishes his lunch and Maggie grabs a
warm wash cloth and wipes the baby's tiny hands and
lightly washes his chapped face. She sets him down on
his feet and he immediately toddles off toward the
dining room.
Maggie quickly cleans up the kitchen and starts to
look for Will. She finds him in the living room trying to climb up
the stairs. He is perched on the third step when she catches him.
"Oh no little man, you don't need to go up there."
She scoops up the baby and kisses his exposed tummy.
He laughs and is soon coughing again. Maggie lowers him into her
arms and feels his forehead; "You feel a little warm sweetie." She
carries the baby back to the kitchen and looks into the bottomless
diaper bag again. Sure enough, she comes up with a
Zip-lok bag of medicine. "I knew your mom would be prepared," Maggie says
smiling down at William.
Will yawns and rubs his face, irritating his sore
nose, he begins to cry. The tears running down his
face just add salt to his wounds, so to speak. He's
beginning to wail and ask for Scully.
Maggie remains calm and offers Will a dropper of baby
Tylenol and a spoon full of cough syrup. Will takes'
it and coughs again.
Maggie takes Will and the diaper bag back into the
living room. She sets the fussy baby on the couch and
pulls out a diaper; a clean T-shirt and a changing
pad. She removes Wills' long sleeved T-shirt, being
careful not to brush his sore cheeks.
The baby shutters from the sudden chill. Maggie cups
his chin in her palm. "You don't feel well do you?"
Will returns a soft watery-eyed, lopsided grin.
She lays him down and unlaces his shoes, pulling them
off and setting them aside, next comes' the tiny
socks. He flexes his toes and arches his long feet at
the newly found freedom. Maggie blows across the
bottom of his feet and Will giggles before being
racked with a cough once more.
"Lets make this quick before you choke to death,"
Maggie says as she takes off the soggy diaper, powders
the baby, and replaces it all in a few seconds.
She sets Will back up and scrunches up a small white
T-shirt easing it over the baby's head being careful not to touch his
sore nose. "Honey I think that's enough clothes for now. Mom
does tend to bundle you up when you don't need it," Maggie sighs,
"she just loves you so much."
Maggie scoops Will up and wraps a soft white blanket
around him while he tugs at his left ear. "Oh no,"
she sighs, "I hope you're not getting an ear
infection. Your mother will be beside herself. For
your sake I hope she doesn't slip into Doctor Scully
mode." Maggie laughs.
The two of them make their way back into the kitchen.
Maggie pulls a bottle out of the fridge and microwaves
it. Will lays his head on Maggie's shoulder and
stuffs two fingers into his mouth. His breathing is
labored and he begins to cough but not as deeply as
before. The tears run down his puffy cheeks. Maggie
gently dabs at his face with a dishtowel.
The buzzer goes off causing Will to turn his head. He
watches Maggie pull the bottle out, shake it and test
it. He opens his mouth once again. Maggie laughs,
"You're so programmed little one." She stuffs the
bottle into his mouth and shifts him in her arms,
softly humming to Will while taking him back into the
living room.
Lowering the lights, she pulls over a well-worn wooden
rocker and sits down. Will tries' to sit up with
Maggie helping him. He looks around the room and
leans back into his grandmother. "You miss your mom
and dad don't you little one," Maggie says as she runs
her lips over the baby's downy soft hair.
Maggie returns the bottle to the baby's mouth. She
tucks the blanket around the tiny person being careful
to cover his feet. Will settles in against his grandma and stares at her
with large, watery, blue eyes. He stops drinking and
looks at Maggie with a wide grin then returns to his
bottle.
Maggie slowly rocks the baby as he wraps one tiny hand
around her thumb. She leans into him and softly
begins, "William you have no idea what you mean to
your mother and I suspect your father too." She rubs
the soft fingers that are wrapped around her own.
"You were a miracle William, one that was never meant
to be. Your mom fought to bring you into this world
and to keep you safe." She continues, ]]><![CDATA["When she first met your dad I knew he was more than just a working
partner to her, even if they didn't admit it to each
other or themselves. Every time she came over there
was a lilt in her voice, she would say 'Mulder did
this and Mulder said that'. I could tell she was
smitten with your dad and to see how your father
suffered when your mother was taken and then so sick.
. ." ]]><![CDATA[Maggie swipes away two large tears. "They
deserve you William." The baby bats his big, blue
eyes at Maggie. "You bring them both so much joy. I
see the way your dad carries you facing foreword so
everyone can see what a cutie his little boy is. He
is so proud of you." Will slowly bats' his eyes.
]]><![CDATA[ ]]><![CDATA["Your mom never takes her eyes off you when you're
near. I know what it is, she can't believe you're
here. I've walked in your room at night to find them
both just watching you sleep." Will slowly lowers'
his eyelids. ]]><![CDATA["One so small has never been so loved," Maggie whispers to the baby. Will drifts off to
sleep. "Before long you'll be talking and running all
over the place. Your dad will do things with you that
dads do with their sons, but your mother will always
see you as her little boy." Will yawns and slowly
opens his eyes. "Soon there will be another little
one at your home but you will always be your mothers
baby."
Maggie sits in the dimly lit room and slowly rocks the
child in her arms. Minutes flow past while the sky
grows dark and purple and the snow begins to fall. A
click is heard at her front door, and a woman's soft
giggle is followed by the deep chuckle of an all too
familiar male voice filling her foyer. The two
obviously have had a nice time. Dana walks in, the
swell of her stomach noticeably visible under the
heavy woolen sweater she wears. Her fingers are
threaded through Mulder's as she pulls him into the
living room. They act like a pair of teenagers coming
in from their first date.
"Well you two look happy," Maggie smiles up from the
baby she is rocking. Mulder moves to stand behind
Scully with his arm around her disappearing waistline.
]]><![CDATA["We had a great time," he whispers as Scully tilts
her head to look down at her son. "He looks content,"
Scully says as William lets out a large sigh and
flexes his long fingers. His eyelids flutter and he
snuggles back down into a sound sleep.
"We had a nice time. We ate soup and took our
medicine," Maggie says as she glances down at the
baby. Scully grows concerned, "How was he?" She asks
as she runs her fingers through his soft hair.
"He coughed and had a runny nose but then the medicine
started to work and he settled down. We did just
fine."
"It looks like it," Mulder softly says as he sits on
the edge of the couch tugging Scully down next to him.
"So did you get your Christmas shopping done?"
"Started but not done," Scully sighs as Mulder rubs
her back and grins. "Tell her."
"Mulder!" Scully looks surprised. "We agreed we would
wait until Christmas."
Mulder smirks' and nudges her with his arm. "Go on
Scully, you know you want to."
"Me! Mulder, you're the one who brought it up.
Besides'. . ."
"Okay, okay tell me what?" Maggie interjects.
"Well yesterday I had some test run," Scully says.
Maggie is getting concerned. "Dana! Is everything
all right?"
"I'm fine mom," Scully looks up at Mulder, "More than
fine."
"Well what then?"
Scully smiles at Mulder, "Go on you know you want to."
Mulder smiles and moves forward, placing his trench
coat covered elbows on his knees. "Maggie, the baby
is a girl, William is going to have a little sister."
Maggie's face breaks into a huge grin. "How
wonderful! I'm finally going to get a granddaughter."
"That's not all," Mulder says, "we want her middle
name to be Melissa."
Maggie looks' up surprised by her son-in-law. "Fox are
you sure? I mean you have a sister too."
"I know," Mulder grins, "but there will be more
daughters to name after her."
Scully's head jerks up, "There will be?" She laughs
and leans into Mulder.
"Well we'll see," Mulder softly says as he smiles back
at her.
Scully begins to move off the couch. Mulder jumps up
to help her up. "Come on Mulder, Will needs to get
home and I am dying for an order of fried
cheese-sticks at that little convenience store on the
corner."
"Cravings?" Maggie laughs.
"I hope so," Mulder chuckles as he places his hands on
Scully's shoulders, "I can't imagine after all these
years my Scully would be eating deep-fried dairy
products."
"Your Scully?" Scully says with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes 'my Scully', the same one who when she was
carrying Will made me run out at night for tuna fish
sandwiches."
"On whole wheat toast," Scully laughs and turns to
place her hands on Mulder's chest. "I'm so sorry
Mulder but your son took a liking to tuna fish."
"And now he turns his nose up at it," Mulder laughs.
Maggie raises up with Will still sleeping in her arms.
"He'll need to be dressed," she softly says.
Scully moves over to look at her small son. "I hate
to wake him, he looks so content and he isn't
coughing."
"Well you could spend the night. You have night
clothes here and my local convenience store does carry
deep-fried cheese-sticks."
Scully looks up at Mulder, "Well?"
"It's up to you but a nice warm bed does sound
appealing."
"Oh no mister! Not until I get my fried cheese,"
Scully laughs.
"Okay, okay," Mulder sighs and shakes his head as he
walks toward the door. "Anyone else want anything?"
Maggie speaks up, "Could you bring me a tuna fish on
wheat, that sounds really good."
~ The End ~
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