Disclaimers in Part One.
'Where are we?' Scully opened her eyes and looked out the window at the ocean.
'Still on the PCH. Malibu.' Krycek answered. 'And my eyes are nearly crossed from staring at the road.'
'Let's stop, then.' Scully stretched in her seat and took another glance out the window. 'I forgot how beautiful the California coast is.'
Krycek smiled. 'Roll down your window and take a deep breath.'
Scully did and smiled. 'Oh my god, I've missed the beach.'
'I'm starving.' Krycek said. 'I was planning on stopping at Gladstone's. You mind?'
'Is there food?' She smiled at him.
'Agent Scully.' Krycek looked astonished. 'Don't tell me a chic surfer chick like you has never heard of Gladstone's.'
'Hold on now.' Scully thought for a moment. 'It's in Malibu?'
'It's right on the PCH where Sunset Blvd stops at the Pacific.'
'Would you believe I've never really seen Los Angeles?' Scully asked.
'Never even been down the Strip?'
She shook her head. 'Can't say that I have.'
'You've got some sights to see, Agent Scully.'
She smiled and looked back out the window. 'I'm sure we have the time.'
Krycek looked over at her, feeling a change in her mood, but didn't say anything.
Scully thought about Mulder for the millionth time that trip. Why didn't he come with them? How could he just let her go? Didn't he care? Mulder had known her for years and had let her drive across the country all alone with some man who'd until recently, been their greatest enemy. What the hell was the matter with him?
She looked over at Krycek, feeling the concern ooze out of him. She put a hand over his, which was resting on the shifter. 'I'm sorry.'
'For what? Having feelings?' He looked straight ahead. 'Don't worry about it. Enjoy the ocean. It's a far cry from Virginia.'
'It's beautiful.' Scully inhaled the ocean air again. It reminded her of when she was younger; it reminded her of being free. 'So, what do you want to see, where do you want to go?'
'You tell me, Agent Scully.' Krycek said, looking over at her. 'You're the tourist.'
'Let's check out Malibu.' She said, smiling.
*************************
Scully had never been to Newport Beach before so Krycek took her down the main drag. Santa Cruz was one thing, but Newport was a whole other story. Every other car had a surfboard sticking out of the trunk, out of the window or strapped to the roof. Every other car was a Ferrari, a Jag, a Lamborghini, a Porsche. Every kind of music imaginable was blasting from all the cars, the shops, the cafes and the various condos and beach houses lining the street. Scully smiled at a group of beachheads that had turned to whistle at her.
'You're a hit.' Krycek smiled.
'I do not condone such exploitation of women.' She said, trying to look annoyed. 'This is not the Fifties.'
'Oh you loved it.'
'I did not!'
'You lie!'
'I don't!'
'All those years in those professional suits you wore…' Krycek looked over at her. 'You can't wait to get in a bikini and have all the guys ogling over you.'
'Oh that will look lovely when I'm nine months along.'
They were both silent for a moment.
'Yikes.' Scully began to laugh. 'Did you just get the same visual I did?'
He threw his head back and laughed in response.
'How rude!' She said, laughing with him.
'There's nothing wrong with a pregnant woman's body.' Krycek said. 'It's actually quite beautiful if you think about it.'
'Yeah, swollen ankle's, stretch marks, a huge stomach-'
They drove by a group of women, one incredibly pregnant in her two-piece bathing suit.
'See?' Krycek asked.
'Whatever.'
The ride on the ferry across to Balboa Island was very short, but fun. They passed people in two-seater pedal boats and kayaks, yachts and sailboats. Everyone waved to each other.
'Gonna have to score a convertible.' Krycek said. 'We look like tourists.'
They drove along The 1 for awhile before pulling up in front of a small cottage.
'Is this it?' Scully asked, getting out and shutting the door.
'Home Sweet Home.' He answered.
'It's beautiful.' She said, walking along the cobble-stoned path to the front door. 'How do you know about it?'
Krycek looked at her strangely. 'It's mine.'
The inside was even more impressive. What didn't show from the front was that the house continued down a cliff two more stories. The top floor was the living area, with the kitchen, dining room and living room, the second floor down consisted of three bedrooms and the bottom floor was entirely dedicated to entertaining.
'No one knows where I have my houses.' Krycek said, leaning against the pool table and watching her inspect the rec room. 'They're the few secrets I have kept.'
Scully opened some French doors and stepped out onto a massive deck overlooking the ocean. This was insane, this was too much. She smiled to herself.
This was perfect.
*************************
Scully had been on the phone with Mulder for an hour. It was the first time they'd actually spoken since she'd left, over a month ago. They'd been communicating through the Lone Gunmen; she wouldn't call his apartment for the fear that his phone was being tapped. So she called her three freaky friends, giving and receiving messages and trying to work out a time to talk. It was nice to speak to him, be he seemed preoccupied and was very vague on when he'd come out to visit. He promised he'd be out by the beginning of fall and they agreed to speak in a week, at the same time.
She wandered out to the deck to find Krycek leaning against the deck railing, basking in the glow of the small, adobe fireplace.
'Whatcha doin'?' She asked, handing him some tea.
'That dog is out there again.' He said, looking down at the beach.
'Ashley, the girl next door, was talking about it.' She wrapped her hands around the mug of tea to absorb its warmth. 'I guess it's a stray.'
'He's sad.' Krycek said. 'He wasn't always a stray.'
'I never thought about the fact that you could probably sense animals feeling's too.'
'Why do you think I'm vegan?' He smiled at her. 'Give it a try.'
Scully reached out with her senses, but got nothing. She had long ago reached the conclusion that she could never have as much control over her abilities as Krycek did.
'Now you're just giving up.' He said softly.
'Eavesdropping again?'
'How many times do I have to tell you?' He said.
'I know, I feel things very strongly.'
'And you say you're not psychic.' He set his mug down on the railing. 'I'm going to check out the dog.'
'This I have to see.' Scully said, following him.
They walked down the staircase to the beach, following the surf. They got within twenty feet of the dog and it started to growl.
'It doesn't sound very friendly.' Scully said, nervous by the menacing sounds coming from it's throat. She stopped, but Krycek continued forward. 'Alex.' She warned. 'Be careful.'
He closed the distance by half and squatted down, staring at the dog. It was a Rottweiler, very large and very vocal about its feelings.
The dog began to whimper, then suddenly ran to Krycek. For a moment, Scully was afraid that it was charging him to tear his throat out, but the dog was wagging it's tail.
Krycek was scratching the dog's neck, speaking softly.
'Ciao, il mio amico.' He said. 'Non siete piu soli.'
Although Scully didn't know what language he was speaking, the words translated in her head. 'Hello, my friend. You're no longer alone.'
Amazing, she thought to herself.
'Rottweiller's are traced back to the Roman's.' Krycek said, petting the dog. 'So I have to speak to him in Italian.'
*************************
The Lone Gunmen were passing through on the way down to San Diego. Scully was surprised at how happy she was to be meeting them. She and Krycek were sitting at the window in Del Taco in the Balboa fun zone, munching on bean burritos and drinking iced tea. A radio somewhere was blasting out Marilyn Manson.
'…There's not much left to love…Too tired today to hate…I feel the empty, I feel the minute of decay…'
Krycek smiled. 'I can sense the benevolent Frohike.'
Scully giggled, looking at the window. 'Me too, but I don't see them anywhere.'
'…I'm on my way down now…I'd like to take you with me…I'm on my way down…'
Krycek sang along softly, looking out the window.
'…The minute that it's born…It begins to die…I'd love to just give in…I'd love to live this lie…'
Scully smiled. 'I see them.'
Krycek turned in his seat, but she put a hand on his arm. 'Hold on, I want to see if they recognize us.'
The three walked in and surveyed the inside of the restaurant. They moved over to a booth and sat down.
Scully and Krycek smiled at each other. If they'd been able to fool the three stooges at a quick glance, they were certainly able to fool strangers. She stood up and walked over to their table.
'Hey, Sugar.' She drawled in a southern accent. 'Wanna date?'
The three turned to see Scully smiling radiantly. Her hair, which had grown out quite a bit, was blonde. She was wearing a totally un-Scully pink sundress and she was wearing sandals and a silver anklet. It was also very obvious that she was pregnant.
Frohike gasped and scooted over so she could sit down. 'You look…My god, you look…'
'Beautiful?' Krycek finished, standing next to her and leaning against the booth.
'Wish I could say the same for you.' Frohike smiled at Krycek in spite of himself. 'You look like a surfer punk ass.'
'I resemble that remark.' Krycek replied, running a hand through his shaggy hair. When they first arrived in Newport, he had bleached his short hair. Now that it was grown out, the tips stayed blonde while the rest was dark.
'It's so good to see you guys!' Scully reached over with both her hands and put one on Byers's and one on Langly's.
'Damn girl, you're tan.' Langly smiled.
Scully giggled girlishly. Life at the beach had been good to her.
Langly looked up at Krycek. 'Any crazy white caps out there?'
'It's all good.' Krycek replied. 'I got an extra board. We can do the wedge.'
'Come on back to the house.' Scully said. 'You can meet Stout.'
'Stout?' All three of them asked.
'Our Rot.' She answered, beaming.
'Rot?' Byer's asked, looking odd in shorts and a T-shirt.
'Rottweiller.' Krycek answered.
'Why Stout?' Langly looked between the two of them, still not really recognizing them.
'Alex named him that.' Scully looked up at Krycek and he smiled back at her.
'Stout?' Frohike repeated.
'Yes.' Krycek said. 'Because he's thick, dark and strong.'
Frohike rolled his eyes and laughed. 'Oh, whatever.'
*************************
Mulder sat across from Diana in the meeting, trying his best to ignore her. He knew that the Lone Gunmen were out visiting Scully and he was disappointed that he hadn't been able to go as well. In a couple of weeks, he promised himself like he had been every couple of weeks. He wondered what she looked liked pregnant. How far along was she now? Five months? Six months? He shook his head slightly to himself. She had sounded wonderful the last time he'd talked to her. She went on and on about the dog. What was its name?
'Fox.' Diana's foul voice interrupted his thoughts. He looked up to see that all the heads in the room were swiveled towards him. 'Care to join us?'
'Sorry.' Mulder mumbled, shuffling through his papers.
*************************
'Fox.'
Mulder winced and stopped in the hallway, sighing and closing his eyes. Damn, he thought he'd be able to get away.
'Yes, your highness.' He said, turning to face her and pretending that is was indeed Princess Leia and not his ex-wife looking back at him.
'Would you like to tell me what's going on?' Diana asked.
Mulder resumed walking. 'And what are you talking about?'
'Your mental vacation.' She said, trying to keep up with him. 'The fact that every time someone say's something to you it seems to require a great effort on your part to join the land of the living.'
He ignored her and kept walking.
'Fox.' When he still didn't answer, she grabbed his arm. 'Fox!'
'Oh I'm sorry, Diana.' He said, mock apology on his face. 'Were you saying something?'
Her nails dug painfully into his arm, but he didn't jerk away. 'You might want to keep me on your side, Fox. I can be quite ugly when I want to.'
Mulder's lips twitched in a smile. 'And that must be all the time.'
Diana's eyes widened, her mouth dropped. Mulder stepped closer to her. 'Just because we believe in the same cause doesn't mean that I have to like you, talk to you or look at you. My only interest here is and always has been for the truth, for the world, for peace. It has nothing to do with you.'
'But Fox.' She said, her face falling.
'Your hurt doesn't work on me anymore, Diana.' He said. 'I'm not as young and naive as I used to be and I'm not taking your shit this time around.'
Mulder walked out of the building, shaking his head. He let out a deep breath and turned to run right into Skinner.
'Sir?' Mulder was taken aback to see his superior in the Big Apple.
'Agent Mulder?' Skinner was just as surprised. 'What are you doing up here?'
'I was just asking myself that same question.' Mulder said.
'Want to talk about it over dinner?' Skinner said. 'I know where we can get a really good veggie burger.'
'Oh no.' Mulder said, looking dismayed. 'Not you too.'
*************************
Scully walked into the house, laden with bags from Pea in a Pod. She was getting big and none of her clothes would fit anymore.
'Alex?' She called, tossing her keys down on the haltry.
She didn't get an answer, but sensed that he was in the house. As she got closer to the stairs, she heard the piano playing downstairs.
She frowned, moving down to the third level. Who the hell was here?
Stout ran up to her as she reached the double doors leading into the rec room. She leaned down to pat the dog on the head and looked over to see Alex at the piano. She watched him, shocked. She had no idea he knew how to play.
The music filled the room and Scully recognized the familiar tune from when Melissa was taking lessons. Fur Elise.
She leaned against the door, staring at him, a strange feeling creeping through her.
She used to love to watch and listen to Melissa play the piano. To see Alex Krycek, Mr. Big, Bad, Hit-Man, Tough-Guy, play so beautifully was very strange. She shouldn't be surprised. There was a lot about him that she didn't know. A small smile crept on her face and slowly walked towards him, crossing her arms. The sounds emanating from the piano filled the room. She stood behind him, watching his hands move across the keyboard. When she rested her hands on his shoulders, he jumped and quit playing, snapping his head around to look at her.
'I'm sorry.' She said. 'I figured you knew I was in here.'
He leaned his head back and smiled at her. 'No, I had no idea. Music gets me like that sometimes.'
'It does?'
He nodded and patted the empty space on the seat next to him.
'Alex, if I sit down, I'll break the bench.'
'No, you won't.' He laughed at her. 'I weigh more than you do.'
She settled next to him and he reached out his hands towards hers.
'I'll teach you the C scale.'
She smiled, holding out her hands. 'I know nothing about music.'
'That's okay.' Krycek put his hands over hers and positioned them on the keys. 'I'll teach you.'
He taught her the basic scale from middle C and she smiled as she played it, pausing to remember to curl her thumb under on her right hand, and to crossover with her left.
He grinned at her. 'You're a natural.'
She smiled up into his face. 'How long do you think until I can play like you?'
'Not that long, I'm sure, since I'm not that good.' He smiled as his fingers moved over the piano again. She watched his hands pluck out the sounds of Fur Elise. She put her chin in her hand and stared at his profile, a smile on her face growing larger and larger.
'What?' He asked shyly, his fingers moving quickly over the keyboard.
'It's just…I don't know.' She said softly, watching his fingers pick up speed. 'I'm always impressed with people who understand music.'
'It's not hard when you can feel it.' He replied, running through the main break of the song again.
'You can feel music?'
'Yeah.' He replied. 'Sometimes it really bothers me.'
'Can you show me?' She asked softly, watching his fingers dance around the piano.
He looked over at her and continued playing. He smiled when she did.
'You're such a showoff.' She said, meeting his eyes.
'I'm not showing off.' He didn't break the eye contact with her and continued on with the song. 'I'm just playing.'
'You love to play.' She said. 'I can tell.'
'Yeah.' He replied, giving her a sad smile. 'When they took my arm, it sucked because I couldn't play. Not to mention my balance was totally screwed so I couldn't surf.'
She smiled again. 'Show me how you feel music.'
He quit playing and the stereo turned on.
She grinned at him. 'You're going to need to teach me that trick.'
'No trick.' Krycek shook his head and grinned. 'Quantum mechanics.'
'Whatever.' She said.
A song began to play on the radio and he grinned. 'Perfect.'
'…Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young…In a world of magnets and miracles…'
'Perfect?' She asked.
He nodded. 'This songs gets me.'
'…Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary…The ringing of the division bell had begun…'
'Why does this song get you?'
'Because it's so perfectly constructed.' He answered, standing up.
'…There was a ragged band that followed in our footsteps…Running before time took our dreams away…Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground…To a life consumed by slow decay…'
Krycek held a hand out. She took it and they walked out onto the deck.
'You ready?' He asked.
She nodded. He took both of her hands and stared down at her.
Scully took a deep breath as feelings washed over her. The music became part of her. She didn't think she'd ever felt anything so beautiful. The song seemed to travel through her bones; the melody caressed her brain.
'…Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us…To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side…Steps taken forwards then sleepwalking back again…Dragged by the force of some inner tide…'
She felt tears come to her eyes. He let go and looked down in her face.
'You okay?'
Scully took a deep breath, staring up into his eyes, and nodded.
He smiled. 'Are you sure?'
She continued to stare at him and nodded again.
'…Encumbered forever…By desire and ambition…There's a hunger still unsatisfied…'
'I'm gonna take some waves. You mind?'
Scully shook her head and he smiled at her again. 'You sure you're okay? You don't feel okay.'
She managed a small smile and nodded again. He moved past her, into the house.
'…Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon…Go down this road we've been so many times…'
She stayed out on the deck, overwhelmed with what had just happened. Not just with the music, but with herself. She always tried so hard to ignore this when it snuck up on her from time to time. She knew there was a logical explanation. She knew it wasn't real.
'…The grass was greener…'
Krycek came out onto the deck in a wetsuit and looked at her. 'You sure you're okay?'
'…The light was brighter…'
She nodded, turning to face him and he grinned at her. 'You sure?'
'…The taste was sweeter…'
She nodded again, staring back at him.
'…The nights, of wonder…'
'Dana, you look live you've seen a ghost.' He touched her face. 'You sure you're okay?'
'…With friends surrounding…'
'I'm fine.' She replied stonily, marveling at the fact that he'd never reached out to her like that before.
'…The darkest glowing…'
'You lie.' He smiled at her before picking up his surfboard and moving down the staircase. 'But since you're reluctant to tell me what's wrong, I'll leave you alone.'
'…The water flowing…'
She turned to watch him go, pressing her lips together.
'…The airless river…'
This is bad, she thought to herself, watching him walk towards the surf. This is so very, very bad.
'…Forever and ever…'
*************************
'How do you eat that?' Mulder asked Skinner, before biting into his juicy cheeseburger.
'That's funny.' Skinner said, raising his own veggie burger. 'I think the same thing of that dead piece of cow you're about to chew on.'
'Food chain.' Mulder replied.
Skinner grinned. 'I'll let Agent Scully argue with you over that one. I'm not as qualified.'
'You spoken with her recently?' Mulder asked.
Skinner nodded. 'Last week, she called me at the Lone Gunmen's place. She sounded good.'
'I think she's doing well.' Mulder said softly. 'I'm glad she's happy.'
'Planning on visiting her soon?'
'Yes.' Mulder said. 'And no.'
Skinner raised his eyebrows at him questioningly.
'I would love to see her.' Mulder explained. 'But I don't know how much I can take of Krycek.'
'Agent Mulder.' Skinner put down his crumbling veggie burger. 'You should really take some time and go visit her. Krycek be damned. And you never know.' Skinner shrugged. 'You might like him if you give him half a chance.'
Mulder nodded. 'I know. I just can't bring myself to do it yet. I know about Krycek's amazing abilities. It doesn't take away my feeling of disgust for him. Especially since…'
Mulder's voice trailed off and Skinner picked his burger back up. 'Especially since he and Scully seem so close?'
'Damn.' Mulder said. 'Is it really that obvious to everyone else that they've become so attached? I thought it was only me.'
'No, Agent Mulder.' Skinner said. 'I think it's a connection they have. They can read each other's minds.'
'How do you know that?'
'She told me.' Skinner remembered the night Krycek had stumbled into her apartment. 'It was the weirdest thing. We were sitting there, eating, and all of a sudden this look came over her face. I thought she was choking, but she was actually just sensing Krycek's presence.'
'She didn't tell me about that.' Mulder said.
Skinner nodded. 'She felt him coming up to the apartment. She knew he was coming. Actually, it was frightening when she was talking about it.'
Mulder thought for a moment. 'Damn, I better go out and see her.'
*************************
'Mulder, it's been months.' Scully said sharply into his ear. 'It's Halloween now. Are you ever going to come out before the baby's born?'
'I'm sorry, Scully.' Mulder sighed. He felt so guilty, but why couldn't she understand that what he was doing was important?
'I'm tired of hearing you say you're sorry.' Scully said. 'I've heard it over and over again.' She paused. 'If there's someone else I wish you'd just tell me.'
'Scully, there is no one else.' Mulder said, rising off the couch in defense.
She remained silent. He couldn't see it, but he could picture her expression. Her lips pouted out a little, her eyebrows knitted together.
'Can't you understand what I'm trying to do here, Scully?' He asked softly.
'You've never quite told me what you're doing, Mulder.' She said. 'So how would I understand it?'
'I'll explain it all when I visit.'
'And when is that going to be?' Her voice was still irritated, sharp, not giving him one bit of leeway.
I guess I can't blame her, he thought. It has been a long time.
'Soon.' Mulder said. 'I promise.'
Scully slammed the phone down without saying goodbye. She couldn't help it. She was so hurt, so upset. Thoughts were racing through her mind. Why do I even bother to call him anymore? Why doesn't he want to see me? What could he possibly be doing that's important enough for him to throw me away? Or maybe I was never all that important to him in the first place.
She pushed that last thought away. She knew it wasn't true. She and Mulder shared a very special relationship. At least they had, she thought to herself. Everything was so different now; their relationship was going through a transformation. It might be better, might be worse, but it will never be the same again.
Scully shook her head, deciding that she wasn't going to worry about it for the rest of the night, again. She did the same thing every Sunday and she was tired of yearning for Mulder. If he wouldn't even make the effort to see her for one lousy weekend…
Stop it, Dana. She told herself. Just stop it.
Scully walked down to the lower level and pushed the door open. Krycek was lounged in a chair, in front of the fireplace. One hand absently petting Stout and a book in the other. She stood and watched the peaceful sight for a few moments until she noticed the stereo was on KROQ and 'Bathwater' by No Doubt was beating through the room:
'…I know I'm diving into my own destruction…'
Scully walked over towards the two of them as Krycek looked over and Stout ran to meet her. She began to sing along with the lyrics…
'…So why do we choose, the boys that are naughty…I don't fit in, so why do you want me…I know I can't tame you, but I just keep trying…'
Krycek stood up and smiled at her as he spun her around, singing along.
'…Cause I love to wash in your old bathwater…You make me feel like you couldn't love another…I can't help it…You're my kinda man…'
Scully laughed as Stout began to bark at them, her mind temporarily forgetting about Mulder.
'It's Halloween, Dana.' Krycek said, smiling down at her. 'We need to head over to the Fun Zone, see the freaks, ride the Ferris wheel, grab dinner at Ruby's.'
'As long as we're back in time to watch 'Night of the Living Dead'.' She replied. 'I never miss it.'
'It'll be freezing out on the pier.' He said. 'You better wear a jacket.'
She smiled up at him as she walked out of the rec room. 'Yes, Mother.'
They kept the top off of the jeep and listened to Marilyn Manson as they looked for a place to park.
'…We're on a bullet and we're headed straight into God…Even he'd like to end it too…'
'Well that's just beautiful, Alex.' Scully said, glancing at his profile.
'It's Halloween.' He replied, grinning as he maneuvered the jeep into a space. 'When else can I indulge in Marilyn Manson without you throwing holy water at me.'
'…Cause we got no future…And we wanna be just like you…We wanna be just like you…'
'Oh please.' She replied, rolling her eyes. 'I like Marilyn Manson.'
He laughed and stared at her in disbelief. 'You cringe if I even so much as look at the jewel case for Anti-Christ Superstar.'
'The title alone should tell you something.'
'…And we know that nothing's true…I saw a priest kill a cop on the TV…And we know that there are heroes too…'
'I've been thinking.' He said casually, watching all the people in costumes saunter down Balboa.
Scully smiled. 'I never like that way that sounds.'
Krycek got out of the car and shut the door. 'I think I should get the Anti-Christ Superstar symbol tattooed on my forehead.'
'Do you want our child to think you're Satan?'
'If the child even believes in Satan.' He said, reaching for her hand as she opened the door. 'And that brings up another interesting discussion.'
'I don't think I'm quite ready to talk about what religion the child should be.' She replied, letting him help her out.
He laughed. 'We're going to have to talk about it someday.'
Scully stood still. A small smile crept up on her face and she gave a small shake of her head.
Krycek looked into her face. 'What's wrong?'
'Oh my God.' She said, laughing a little.
'Dana?'
She looked up at him. Her eyes were twinkling. 'We're having a kid.'
'Last I heard.' He grinned back.
'And I don't mean kid as in a baby goat.'
Krycek burst into laughter. 'You're starting to sound like me.'
'I'm talking in only around three months, Alex.' They began to walk towards the pier, out towards Ruby's. 'Three months and I'll be a mom.'
He put his hands in his pockets and looked down at her. 'You nervous?'
'I don't think so.' She shook her head. 'Are you?'
'Hell yeah.' He replied. 'Nervous as all hell. I don't want the poor thing to be like me.'
Scully stopped as they reached the pier and faced him. 'What do you mean, like you?'
'Jaded, tarnished, burned out, screwed up.' He smiled. 'Feel free to stop me anytime. Naïve, misled, the bad seed-'
'I don't think you're any of those things.' She replied. 'Maybe misled. Okay, maybe jaded.'
Krycek laughed and she went on. 'But you're definitely not the bad seed.'
'I'm glad you don't think I'm Rosemary's Baby.'
'We still haven't decided on any names.' Scully said as they began to walk towards the end of the pier.
'If it's a girl, Winifred.'
She smiled. 'And if it's a boy.'
'Wilferd.'
'On second thoughts, Alex.' Scully shook her head. 'Maybe you are the bad seed.'
The closer they got to Ruby's, the louder they could hear 'Dragula' by Rob Zombie blaring at them.
'…Dig through the ditches and burn through the witches…I slam in the back of my…Dragula…'
Krycek moved his head and sang along.
'…Dead I am the rat…Feast upon the cat…Tender is the fur…Dying as you purr…'
'I'm warning you, Alex.' Scully smiled at him. 'If you break out with the Ricky Martin impersonation again, I'm outta here.'
'Dana, Dana, Dana…' Krycek shook his head. 'You'll stifle the child's sense of freedom with all the restraints you put on its father. Look here, it's relatively warm, the moon is bright, the ocean breeze is blowing, the surf is crashing and it's Halloween. If one cannot be footloose and fancy free under such conditions, when, I ask, can one?'
She snuck a shy glance his way. 'There's a big difference between fancy free and just plain idiotic.'
'There you go again with the name calling.'
'You know, Alex.' She looked up at him. 'I think you are Ricky Martin.'
'Hey now, the name calling I can deal with but now you're just blatantly going for the jugular.'
She laughed as they drew close to Ruby's, her hand slipped easily into his.
*************************
It had to have been very early in the morning. One, two, maybe even three o'clock. Scully could feel Krycek's unease through her sleep. It had invaded her dreams.
She wandered out onto the deck to see him sitting in a patio chair. His face was cold and harsh. It reminded her of the old Krycek; it brought back bad memories. She stared at him for a moment. An old Who song was playing on the radio.
'…No one knows what it's like…To be the bad man…To be the sad man…Behind blue eyes…'
She walked over to stand a few feet away and stared down at him. He didn't notice.
'…No one knows what it's like…To be hated…To be faded…To telling only lies…'
She stood to the side, marveling at the fact that he was so lost in the past. He hadn't noticed her yet, sixth sense or not. He was simply staring straight ahead. The only feeling she caught from him was despair. Maybe a little anger mixed in for good measure.
'…But my dreams…They aren't as empty…As my conscience seems to be…'
She knelt down next to him. She really didn't like the look on his face, the look of Krycek. How he had been so evil and manipulating and done a one-eighty on himself completely baffled her mind.
'…No one knows what it's like to feel these feelings…Like I do…'
She put a hand on his arm. 'Are you wallowing in your mire again?'
He shook his head, remaining silent.
'…But my dreams…They aren't as empty…As my conscience seems to be…'
'And here I thought you were flawless.' She said. 'But I guess even the laid-back, mellow, Taoist surfer has a momentary lapse of reason every now and again.'
His face relaxed in a smile as he looked over at her.
'Oh there you are, Alex.' She returned his grin. 'I was wondering where you went.'
'Sorry.' He said. 'I was just thinking.'
'That's hazardous to your health.' She replied, walking over to sit down next to him. 'Especially at two in the morning, staring out over the ocean. Do I even want to know what thoughts are rolling around in your head?'
'Probably not.' He said, then grinned ironically when the next song began to play.
'…Cut my life into pieces…This is my last resort…'
'Fitting.' He said, listening to Papa Roach's 'Last Resort'. 'What are we going to do after the baby's born?' He asked, looking away. 'We can't just live together until the child is eighteen and goes off to college.'
Scully was silent, mulling it over. It was something she herself had questioned a time or two. She looked over at him, shock on her face. 'How expensive is college going to be by then? Damn, Alex, I'm impressed. You're really thinking ahead.'
He met her gaze, a serious expression on his face. She hadn't realized how upset he really was.
'Alex, the baby isn't due for another few months. We're here and we're fine.' She said. 'Let's not worry about a year from now. Let's just take things as they come. We will make it work. Who is it that's always telling me to live in the present because tomorrow may never come?'
'Damn my sensibility.' He replied, shaking his head. 'Comes back to bite me on the ass.'
Scully stared at him for a minute. 'That's not what you're really worried about, is it?'
'Yes, I have been thinking about that.'
'But that's not all.'
He grinned. 'And you say you're not psychic.'
'Oh no.' She said. 'Don't give me your little grin. You're not going to charm your way out of this one. Spill the beans, come one.'
He was silent for a moment, listening to the song.
'…Cause I'm losing my sight…Losing my mind…Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine…'
'I'm just wallowing in my mire.' He said.
'Let's hear it.' She insisted.
He sighed. 'I'm just afraid. That's all.'
'You're afraid of what?' She asked, music in the background.
'…Nothing's all right…Nothing is fine…'
He didn't look at her. 'I've done some horrible things in my life. I owe. I'm going to have to pay for it. Simple fact of life. You get back what you put out. So I'm going to owe. And I'm going to owe big. And I'm afraid I'm not going to be around to see my child. To see him or her grow up. I can't just decide to change and expect it to be that easy.' He laughed and looked over at her. 'Because it's been pretty easy so far.'
'Maybe it is this easy, Alex.' She said softly. 'Maybe the good things are pay back for what you've already had to endure.'
'Maybe.' He said.
Scully knew he didn't believe it. She didn't know what to say.
'…Cause I'm losing my sight…Losing my mind…Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine…'
'Alex.' She put a hand over his. 'You're fine.'
'I'm sorry.' Krycek said, putting his free hand over his face. 'You're right. No one should be out here reflecting on their past hideousness and the possible repercussions of those actions in the middle of the night under a full moon.'
'…Can't go on…Living this way…Nothing's all…right…'
The song cut off inside the house, leaving the two of them sitting in sudden silence.
*************************
The following night, it was Scully's turn to be restless. She couldn't sleep so she wandered out to the deck. It was freezing and almost midnight but she didn't care. She built a quick fire in the little adobe fireplace and sank into a chair, covering up with a blanket. She was worried sick about Mulder. What was he doing all the way across the country? He was so distant, he never called. When she happened to catch him at the Lone Gunmen's place, their conversation seemed forced.
There were still people down on the beach. She could hear the radio all the way up here. Even though it probably wasn't that loud, she knew her mind could hear it better than her ears. It was that weird song about Iron Maiden.
'…Her name is Noel…I have a dream about her…She rings my bell…I got gym class in half an hour…'
She sensed Krycek's presence before he spoke. 'You want to talk about it?'
Scully shook her head and he walked past her to look out over the beach. 'You want to be alone?'
She shook her head again, knowing that the gesture was unneeded. He could sense her answer anyway.
They stood in silence and listened to the music.
'…But she doesn't know who I am…And she doesn't give a damn about me…'
'I don't know what he's thinking.' Scully suddenly blurted out.
'I'm sure Fox is doing what he thinks he needs to do.' Krycek said, not looking back at her.
'He hasn't been out here.' She said. 'Why won't he even come out here?'
'He thinks that what he's doing is very important.'
'More important then me?' Scully asked, biting back tears.
'He thinks he's saving the world.' Krycek said. 'What can possibly be more important than that?'
Scully fell silent. Here she was, complaining about a man who couldn't, who wouldn't, commit to her. Why was she still hanging onto him? He obviously didn't love her. Even if he did, was this the kind of relationship she really wanted?
'…Cause I'm just a teenage dirtbag, baby…Yeah, I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby…Listen to Iron Maiden baby…With me…'
She looked up at Krycek as he stood there, looking over the Pacific Ocean. He was always ready to talk to her about anything she felt. He was always ready to support her, listen to whatever gripe she had. Why couldn't Mulder be like that? After all, they had an eight-year history. Alex and her had only been friends for a few months but they already felt like best friends. He kept nothing from her while Mulder hid everything. Scully knew that Alex cared about her, and she cared about him. He had brought her a gift the other day. A ring of Celtic lace she had seen and adored.
She had been out on the deck, in her usual chair, trying to write in a journal. This was a habit she'd been religious about all her life, but the ritual had fallen to the side during the last few years of her life. Krycek had casually crashed into the chair next to hers.
'Hey.' He greeted.
'Hey.' She finished scribbling a sentence before closing the book and looking at him. 'You were out awhile. What have you been up to?'
'Takin' care of business.' He grinned at her. 'Workin' overtime.'
'You look like the cat that got the mouse, Alex.' She couldn't help but smile at the boyish grin on his face. 'Why do I get the feeling you're up to something.'
'Because I am.'
'You are?'
'Got somethin' for you.'
'Chocolate?' She asked hopefully.
'No.'
'French fries?'
'No.'
'Food at all?'
'Nope.'
She stuck her bottom lip out. 'Not even a pickle?'
'Not even close.'
'It's not something I can eat?'
He looked over at her. 'You can't be hungry again.'
'I'm eating for two.' She said defensively.
'Seems like three or four.'
'Whatever!' She shoved at him and laughed.
'Now you can forget it.' Krycek said. 'I'll just have to wear it myself. Although I don't think it's quite meant for a man to wear.'
'You brought me maternity clothes?'
'You really think I'm dumb enough to try guessing your size?' Krycek asked, holding out his hand. 'That's suicide. '
I'm not striking a pose here, Dana. Gimme your hand, I'm not going to bite you.'
'With you, Alex, one can never be sure.'
He dropped the ring into her outstretched hand and she gasped.
'I can't take this.'
'The first present I ever give anyone and it's rejected right off the bat. How rude. What kind of pattern am I supposed to develop off of this response?'
'It's not that I don't like it-'
'Next time you see something you want, I'll just be proactive and break it right in front of you.'
Scully slid the band on the ring finger of her right hand and admired it.
'I can see if I brought you home one karat diamond earrings or something that you could refuse, but come on, it's white gold, how expensive can it be?'
'I'm not stupid, Alex. If you brought home diamond earrings, I would justify keeping them.'
'Oh great, so now the ring's not good enough.'
She laughed before glancing up at him. 'I don't know what to say.'
'You don't have to say anything.'
'Yes, I do-'
'No really.' He grinned. 'I can read your mind, you don't have to say anything.'
Scully burst into laughter. 'You're such an asshole.'
He gasped. 'I'm so glad our poor child isn't around to hear the way you're talking to its father.'
'The poor child would probably agree with me.' She said, giving him a look.
'I'm hurt. I'm shocked and amazed. I even brought gifts and still got kicked to the curb.'
The phone rang and he pushed himself off the railing.
'Yeah, you mind getting that for me?' Scully asked, taking a drink of her tea.
'You know, I don't need this abuse.'
'Whatever.' She said, throwing a look in his direction. 'Punk.'
'Loser.' He disappeared into the house.
'Freak.' She called after him.
'Crackhead.' He yelled back.
Scully smiled and shook her head. He appeared a minute later, holding the phone to his chest to cover the mouthpiece.
'Don't faint.'
She looked up at him. 'What? Why?'
He held the phone out towards her and whispered. 'It's Fox.'
Her eyes grew wide in surprise and she took the phone from him, the ring flashing on her hand.
'Like the ring.' He said. 'Must've cost a fortune. Where'd you get it?'
Scully smiled to herself, reliving the memory. Alex was always doing things to cheer her up.
She must be insane; she must be out of her mind. What the hell was she thinking? The answer was simple. She was still in love with Mulder. And she missed him terribly.
Scully got out of her chair and walked towards Krycek.
'…Man I feel like mold…It's prom night and I am lonely…Low and behold…She's walking over to me…'
Krycek sensed her walking up to him and turned to look at her. She got within two feet of him and stopped, staring up at him.
'…This must be fake…My lip starts to shake…How does she know who I am…And why does she give a damn about me…'
Scully searched his eyes and he let her. He didn't look away. He returned her gaze.
'…I've got two tickets to Iron Maiden, baby…Come with me Friday, don't say maybe…I'm just a teenage dirtbag baby, like you…'
Scully slowly let her head fall on his chest. Krycek wrapped his arms around her and held her until she was tired enough to go back to bed.
*************************
Mulder sat on his couch, searching though charts and picking at some leftover Kung Pao chicken, when the Lone Gunmen came knocking.
Langly held up a twelve-pack of MGD. 'We come in peace.'
Mulder smiled and waved them in. 'What's going on, guys?'
'We haven't heard from you in forever and a day.' Byers said. 'We were worried.'
'About me?' Mulder said, accepting a beer Frohike handed him.
'It's not like you to hibernate.' He replied.
'Sorry, guys.' Mulder sighed and ran a hand through his hair. 'I've just been really busy.'
'So we noticed.' Frohike twisted off the cap of his Miller and threw it into the trashcan. 'Scully called us earlier tonight.'
'How is she?' Mulder didn't look at them.
'She mentioned you still hadn't been out to visit her.' Langly said.
'Like I said, I've been busy.'
'Too busy for Scully?' Frohike asked.
'I've been busy.' Mulder repeated.
'We've been out there three times, Mulder.' Byers said, sitting down at the opposite end of the couch. 'You haven't been at all, what's going on?'
'Nothing.'
Frohike leaned closer towards Mulder. 'It's Diana, isn't it?'
'No!' Mulder said, looking horrified.
The three were silent and Mulder leaned back on the couch. The silence stretched out and he finally spoke.
'How is she?'
He was greeted by three different responses.
'She looks great.'
'She seems really happy.'
'She just loves that dog of hers.'
Mulder looked back at the three of them. 'And what's the dogs name?'
'Stout.' They all answered.
'Stout.' He smiled. 'What did you guys do while you were there?'
'Alex and I surf a lot.' Langly said.
'He's teaching me German.' Byers said. 'I learn more and more every time we go out there.'
'Scully taught me how to cook all kinds of vegan crap.' Frohike grimaced. 'I love the way it tastes, but I can't stand to think about all those ingredients.'
'They make some kick-ass chili though.' Langly said.
'Definitely.' Byers said.
'Oh yeah,' Frohike said, 'Their chili rocks.'
Mulder nodded to himself at the idea of the happy homemakers. 'Sounds perfect.'
'You should really go out there, Mulder.' Byers said. 'You don't want to wait too long.'
Byers nodded. 'Alex isn't what you think.'
'He's actually pretty cool.' Frohike said. 'And you know how hard that is for me to say.'
Mulder sat and contemplated for a moment.
Frohike leaned towards him and spoke softly. 'You really need to see Scully. Maggie's been out there quite a lot. She's thinking of moving out that way.'
'Maggie?' Mulder asked. 'Scully's Mom?'
The three nodded somberly.
'She wants to be close to the baby.' Byers said.
'And she really likes Alex.' Langly said.
'Well that's just beautiful.' Mulder said, realizing that the thought of Scully staying out in California for an extended period of time had never entered his mind. What were they planning on doing after the baby was born? He was getting irritated and wished again that Krycek would somehow manage to have an accident while surfing and get washed out to sea.
Frohike leaned down towards him. 'You need to get out there, Mulder.'
'I can't right now.'
Frohike walked to the television and popped a tape into the VCR. 'I didn't want to have to do this.'
Mulder took a drink of his beer, eyeing his friend curiously. 'What the hell are you doing?'
'Waking you up.' Frohike stepped back as an image popped up. 'This was the last time we were out there, for Labor Day.'
'You guys went to decorate the kid's room?' Mulder asked in surprise before being distracted by a song blasting on the television.
'…Judy jumped in front of a subway train…And Eddie got slit in the jugular vein…Eddie I miss you more than all the others…This song is for you my brother…'
The view spun dizzily as the camera was settled in one place. Scully's face came into view and Mulder's breath caught in his throat. He didn't think he'd ever seen her as radiant. She was shining; she was glowing and grinning into the camera. Her hair was blonde and growing out.
'Frohike, you've had that camera in our faces all weekend.'
'You want your kid to have plenty of memories, don't you?'
'…Those are people who died…They were all my friends…And they died…'
'I haven't heard this song in years.' Langly's voice popped up out of view.
'It's flashback weekend.' Krycek's voice could be heard. 'KROQ does this every Labor Day.'
They were on a deck and the ocean could be seen just below. Byers and Bill were hovering around a barbecue; Maggie and Langly were both sitting in some patio chairs. There were a few people Mulder didn't recognize milling around.
'I Touch Myself' by the Divinyls came on after The Jim Carroll Band and Scully's eyes lit up. 'I used to love this song.'
'I used to hate it.' Maggie laughed. 'You and Missy played it the whole weekend you were both visiting.'
'That was ten years ago.' Scully laughed. 'This song is so damn happy. Brings back good memories. I talked with Missy about joining the Bureau that weekend.'
Mulder found himself smiling at the television. Scully looked so happy. He didn't think he'd ever so her so unrestrained, so free. She sang along with the lyrics, moving her head playfully to the beat.
'…I love myself…I want you to love me…When I feel down…I want you above me…'
She reached out and pulled someone next to her. Krycek came into view. He was tan and his hair was longer. He had a silly grin on his face and a beer in his hand.
Mulder's smile vanished in disgust.
'Dance with me.' Scully said, smiling.
'You're nuts.' He replied. 'You know I don't dance.'
He was rewarded with jeers and remarks.
Langly threw a beer cap at him. 'What was the Ricky Martin impersonation earlier.'
Krycek grinned. 'I don't know what you're talking about.'
Scully went to grab his hands and bumped him as he was taking a drink of his beer. The bottle clinked against his teeth and he put a hand over his mouth, laughing.
'I'm sorry.' She laughed with him and put a hand on his arm. She took his hand and twirled under his arm a couple of times, smiling up into his face.
Krycek looked into the camera, a look of bewilderment on his face. 'And she's the sober one.'
Not to be deterred, she took the bottle out of his hand and set it down. She grabbed his other hand and began to dance while singing.
'…You're the one who makes me come running…You're the sun who makes me shine…When you're around, I'm always laughing…I wanna make you mine…'
Krycek rolled his eyes as a stupid grin spread across his face before looking back at her. 'You really wanna get me started? Don't make me go Pulp Fiction on your ass.'
She smiled in response and walked in a circle around him while he stood there. She looked up into his face, playfully singing to him.
'…I close my eyes and see you before me…Think I would die if you were to ignore me…If you could see just how much I adore you…I'd get down on my knees, I'd do anything for you…'
Mulder stared at the television, his mouth hanging open in astonishment.
Who the hell was this? And what did she do with Scully?
Staring at the image of Scully singing to Krycek while dancing around was something his brain couldn't quite grasp. The fact that they were on a deck at a beach house, surrounded by the Lone Gunmen and Scully's family made it even weirder.
Krycek, his evil nemesis, his supposed brother, with hair that was half bleached, tan and drinking a beer, spinning his partner, best friend, and lover around with a silly grin on his face…
Mulder was beginning to believe that he'd followed Alice down the rabbit hole.
The fact that Alex Krycek might not be the big, bad villain was the worst part.
Maybe not.
The fact that Scully appeared happier than he'd ever seen, that was probably the worst part.
Krycek spun her around, grabbed both of her hands to pull her close then pushed her back out again. They both laughed; Scully grinned happily back at him. She had never acted like that with Mulder.
That was definitely the worst part.
'…I search myself…I want you to find me…I forget myself…I want you to remind me…'
Mulder stared in disbelief as Krycek pulled Scully back towards him. She missed his hand and instead crashed into him, her hands on his chest. They both laughed hard and continued to dance. They were both singing.
'…I don't want…Anybody else…When I think about you…I touch myself…'
Mulder looked back, between the Lone Gunmen. 'When are you guys going back out there?'
'They just invited us out for Thanksgiving.' Byers said.
'Book me a ticket with yours.' Mulder said.
Frohike grimaced. 'They'll probably cook Tofurkey or some damn thing.'
End Part Six
Continued in Part Seven
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