#Family Day | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jodithann827 · 1 month

Text

One Night Stand (Revised)

9/13

This chapter is rated teen/ Ao3/ @today-in-fic

Ray’s Deli

Saturday, April 17 1993

*Ding Ding*

The ringing of the bell on the door announces their presence. Walking into the small deli, Emma lodged on one hip, Scully pauses, searching. She spots him, sitting across the room at a small corner table, out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the lunchtime rush. She steadily makes her way towards him and notices a small high chair in place of where a chair should be. Her heart melts, just a bit, realizing he purposefully sought out one for Emma to sit in. He stands as she approaches.

“Hey Scully,” he greets her, a sheepish grin on his face. She thinks it’s adorable, him being cautious, not fully sure how he should act around her now. She gently places Emma into the high chair before gathering some small toys to occupy her. She then focuses on herself, removing her jacket, a lightweight spring one that she places over the back of her chair.

“Hi Mulder, thanks for grabbing the high chair for her,” she offers him a wide smile. Smiling back, he nods, but his eyes wander to Emma, they are magnetized to her face. All he can do is stare. He saw her last night, but it’s as though he’s really and truly seeing her for the first time today. She’s enchanting, the most beautiful child he’s ever seen.

“Emmy, do you remember my friend from last night? Mulder? Can you say hi” Scully prompts the child, gently combing two fingers through her hair. Emma briefly looks up, acknowledging her mother said something to her but then is right back to her toys.

“She’s pretty shy around new people,” Scully explains, grabbing a menu to decide her order. It’s a tactic and she knows it. She frequents this deli enough to know the menu by heart, but having it close gives her something to do with her trembling hands. Mulder nods in recognition and they are quickly interrupted by a well-intentioned waitress, wanting to take their orders. Once the minutiae of ordering is out of the way, they stare at each other, a bit awkwardly, not knowing who should break the silence first.

“When’s her birthday?” Mulder finally asks, unable to handle the silence. He figures it a fairly easy question.

Scully takes a sip of water before answering. “February 15th. She was born in the middle of a blizzard. Some 6 inches of snow on the ground when I went to the hospital.”

“When did you find out?” he asks without elaborating, knowing she knows.

“About six weeks after. There was a stomach bug going around, so I thought I was sick. I was training at Quantico, pushing myself to the brink so I thought it was exhaustion on top of possibly having a bug. My friend Ellen, the one who I was at the bar with that evening, she’s the one who suggested I take a test. I was floored when it came back positive.”

“We were careful, Scully,” he blurts, then lowers his head, embarrassed if anyone overheard him. He looks ashamed, but she gives him a forgiving smile.

“I know Mulder, I was there,” she tells him softly. She realizes she'd been living the life for over two years, while he was just given the information yesterday. Understandably, he needs time to comprehend, to adjust. “Condoms aren’t one hundred percent effective.” She looks at him, looking at Emma, who had abandoned her toys in favor of the crayons and paper that were within her reach.

“Look, Mulder, I know we’re in a strange situation. It is weird and difficult, and awkward as hell. It’s a life that you may or may not have imagined yourself in. I just want you to know that I am ok. Emma is okay. It took a while for us to get to this place, but we are. We are happy and healthy and living our lives. We don’t need anything,” she hopes she doesn’t sound harsh, as it’s certainly not her intention. She wants him to understand that she doesn’t need anything from him.

“Can I ask you a question?” he asks.

“You just did,” she smiles, her attempts at lightening the mood fall slightly flat with the arrival of the waiter and their food. Scully busies herself tending to Emma, cutting her food, and moving the toys. She turns to look at Mulder. “Of course, Mulder, you can ask me anything.”

“If you knew how to get ahold of me, would you have?” He waits for her answer, which comes immediately as the words leave his mouth.

“I never would have kept anything from you. You know, even before I found out I was pregnant, the day after we met, I went through my apartment with a fine tooth comb, looking for anything, any clue, that would give a glimpse as to your identity. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything, and it’s not like I could use the FBI database to find you, though nothing would have come up, William,” she emphasizes with a slight laugh. “I wanted to tell you so badly, Mulder. That night we had, it was amazing and I tried to deny the connection, if I’m being honest, because it terrified me. Never in a million years did I expect any of this to happen, even though she’s the best thing that has ever happened to me.” She pauses, ruffling Emma’s hair. In turn, Emma provides a fistful of pancakes into Scully’s mouth, which makes Mulder bark out a surprised laugh. Emma, understanding she did something funny, attempts to do it again, much to Scully’s amusement.

After wiping her syrupy face, Scully continues. “Look, Mulder, when you sat in that hotel room in Oregon and disclosed everything you’d been through with Samantha, well it made me realize that I couldn’t dump this situation on you, not that Em is a situation, but you know what I mean. You have so much going on with your work and your search for the truth. You said it yourself; nothing else matters–”

“But Scully,” he interrupts. She holds a hand up, indicating she’s not finished. Her voice is steady and even when she continues.

“I love my job, but Emma is my world, my everything. She comes first in my life, no matter what. I live and breathe for her and we have a pretty good life going for us. She’s not lacking anything. My intent is not for you to feel like you need to step in or step up. I’m going to leave it up to you, but I don’t want you to feel pressure. If you want to be in her life as my friend and co-worker, that’s fine. If you want to be cool Uncle Mulder, that’s okay too. If you decide that you want to be a father to her, I won’t stop you. But the one thing I absolutely will not tolerate is having her hurt by significant people going in and out of her life,” she pauses to let him digest the information and after a moment passes, she adds, “I don’t want an answer from you right now. It’s a big decision and I want you to take some time to think about it.”

He hears Scully’s words, but can’t help his continued gaze at Emma. Deep in his heart, he knows he’s already falling in love with her. He acknowledges Scully’s words with a slight nod, not trusting his voice.

“It might change our working relationship or this friendship we seem to be developing, but I’m willing to try and figure it out if it’s something you want,” she tells him.

“Scully,” he says, finally finding his forgotten voice. She looks at him, her skeptical gaze searing into Mulder’s memory. He pushes forward with his request. “I’d like to spend the day with you ladies if that’s okay. Scully looks at Emma, who’s polished off most of her pancakes, at least the ones she didn’t feed to Scully, smiles, and nods.

Scully Residence

Saturday, April 17 1993

Exhaustion. He feels it from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. Every body part aches and he feels as though he could sleep a million hours. But his heart is full, bursting at the seams. He nurses a beer as he sinks further into Scully’s couch and thinks about the day he had. Once they’d finished lunch it was decided that an adventure to the local park was needed. At first, Mulder was hesitant. Mr. ‘willing to jump into any dangerous situation that crossed his path’ was nervous about playing with a small child. He’d sat back and watched Scully interact with her daughter; his daughter; their daughter. She’d pushed her on the swing, crawled up the plaything, down the slide, and chased her around the woodchips. He wasn’t sure who his eye was drawn to more, Emma or her mother. He would have been content to sit there all day, just watching them in their blissful happiness.

Out of the blue, Emma toddled up to him, grasped his pinky finger, which dwarfed her microscopic hand, and attempted to pull him to the swings. “Push,” she demanded with a giggle. Mulder had looked at Scully, looking for permission. The mega-wat smile on her face was all he needed. He lifted Emma, placed her on the rough material, and started pushing. He was overcome with joy, as well as astonishment. He couldn’t believe how light and little she was. She clapped her hands and squealed with the delight of a child on a summer day each time Mulder’s hand connected with her back. Every so often, he would turn to face Scully, needing assurance that he was still doing okay, and each time he was rewarded with a smile.

After their romp at the park, Mulder suggested a quest for ice cream, which delighted Emma. He wasn’t sure if more of the melted cone ended up in the little one’s stomach or on her face and clothing. The icing on the proverbial cake was when Emma decided to reenact feeding Scully and Scully ended up with melted chocolate ice cream on her face and in her hair, and though she tried to be annoyed, she laughed right along with Mulder and Emma. Without thinking, Mulder took a napkin and dapped at the sticky substance on her cheek. He couldn’t get over how natural the day had felt.

Squeals of delight brought him back to the present. Scully was bathing Emma, possibly unsuccessfully if the sounds coming from the bathroom were any indication. It sounded more like an exuberant playtime. What am I going to do, he thinks to himself while he waits for them to finish. Knowing he has a monumental decision to make, he takes another sip of beer. It’s a two-fold problem. No, problem isn’t the right term because any fool would be lucky to be in his shoes. But it was an issue he had to address, sooner rather than later. He’s a father, and nothing would change that. Emma had already captured his heart with her soft eyes, warm smile, and joyful attitude. If it was just about Emma, his choice would be easy. But who’s he kidding? None of this is easy. There’s Emma, and then there’s Scully. He’d be lying to himself if he admitted he didn’t think about that night often. How easily they communicated that night, how much fun they had, and how mindblowing the sex was. He was also really enjoying working with her on the X-files. She challenged him in ways he’d never been challenged before. She made him think and work for his theories. How sustainable would the partnership be? Would he be able to be a father to his child and just be a friend to her mother? There were so many questions racing through his mind.

“I started to put her down,” her voice startles him. He turns to see Scully, holding a pajama-clad Emma. “She keeps saying ‘Mudder’ so I’m thinking she wants to say goodnight to you.” Emma reaches out her arms to Mulder as Scully comes closer and Mulder’s arms automatically lift to receive her.

“Goodnight sweet Emma,” he nuzzles into her cheek.

“Night Mudder,” her sweet voice carries through the room. She yawns and snuggles into his chest, her eyelids heavy and her thumb going straight into her mouth.

“Do you want to put her to bed?” Scully asks in a hushed tone. He nods and stands, ever so carefully, a man holding the most precious gift, and follows Scully to Emma’s room. He places her, softly, into her crib. Instinctively, he kisses his fingers and then places them onto Emma’s cheek, before smoothing her hair out of her face. They carefully back out of the room and retreat to the front of Scully’s apartment, Scully, in search of a glass of wine, and Mulder, in search of his half-finished beer.

Once enveloped in the couch, Scully lets out a monstrous yawn after giving Mulder a shy and apologetic smile. “I love her so much, but she can be exhausting at times.” Mulder gives her a skeptical glance and redacts her statement. “Okay, all of the time.” Mulder nods approvingly.

They sit in silence for a while before Mulder praises her. “I don’t know how you do it, Scully. I barely survived the day.”

“You get used to it and it helps that she is a good girl. My family helped out a lot in the beginning. They still help a lot since I am working more now,” she explains.

“Will you…” he starts but trails off. He hesitates, watching her sip her wine.

Sensing his trepidation, she gives an encouraging nod. “What, Mulder? Ask me, it’s okay. I told you I would tell you anything.” Her voice is soft and reassuring.

“Would you feel comfortable enough to tell me about her birth? I don’t mean the details, you don’t have to share those, but maybe just the experience?” Scully is taken by surprise. The request is the furthest thing she thought he would ask. Smiling, she nods and takes his hand. Then she begins.

#dana scully #fox mulder #the x files fanfic #x files #au fanfiction #msr #msr fanfic #baby Emma #family day #how will this work

13 notes · View notes

eva-knits12 · 6 months

Text

Andy's Favorite Girls

Trigger warning: gestational diabetes, type I diabetes, childbirth, fluff

Summary: Andy , Joy, and Joelle welcome Penelope Rose Barber.

The nursery is set up. The crib and the changing table is built. You're busy folding onesies, and Andy is busy setting up the curtains. This is almost a flash back to six years ago, when you were pregnant with Joy. Only the theme of the nursery is different. Joy's theme was a nice, spring theme, and the theme for Penelope's nursery was a nice, flower garden theme.

Just like six years ago, Andy has his head resting on your nine months pregnant belly, and he kisses your belly.

"I love you, Penelope Rose," says Andy. Penelope kicks, and Joy walks in the nursery, carrying her back pack. It's Joy's last day of kindergarten, and she is excited.

"Mommy, Daddy, school's finally over!" says an excited Joy.

"I know, baby," says Andy.

You yawn, and Andy helps you up.

"Oh, honey, you look exhausted. Here, why don't you go take a nap for a bit, I'll take care of Joy," says Andy. Andy had promised Joy a trip to the beach this weekend, and you would go, too. Getting some sun would be good for you. You were hoping that you wouldn't go into labor before then.

Andy helps you on the bed, and gets your feet up. You don't remember your feet aching this bad when you were pregnant with Joy, so Andy sat on the edge of the bed, put your feet in his lap, and started to rub them. You fall asleep, and Andy covers you with a blanket.

Andy goes to make Joy her lunch, and he puts your lunch on a tray, and delivers it to you.

"Thank you, Andy," you say, with exhaustion in your voice.

"Oh, honey, this pregnancy has really worn you out, you were never this exhausted with Joy," says Andy, sympathy in his voice. You never were this tired with Joy, either. In fact, you were a ball of energy throughout most of Joy's pregnancy.

You were at a regular follow up appointment when you had to be given a blood test. The doctor found some sugar in your urine, and he had requested a blood test just because he had suspected that you had gestational diabetes. The blood test confirmed it. The fact that you were just constantly nauseous and tired all the time. You had no idea what causing this, and your doctor followed his gut instinct. He ordered the blood test and the UA, and the blood test confirmed it. You had to spend a few days in the hospital when Andy found you passed out on the kitchen floor one morning after Andy and Joy came back from her dance class. Andy kept the house running, and even worked from home.

You were given insulin, and even took it every day, you were still tired. The nausea had all but gone away, but you were still tired. The fatigue was making you feel even worse. You felt as if you had zero energy to do things. Andy and Joy were helping you get through this. Joy was drawing pictures to make you happy, Andy was taking care of you and running the house. He made sure that you got plenty of rest, took your insulin, and checked your blood sugar every day. Every day, Andy and Joy would visit you in the hospital until you were released.

Thanks to your PCP and your ob/gyn, they kept pushing for tests. There was just something off about this diagnosis. It was discovered that the gestational diabetes was only the beginning of something. You were eventually diagnosed with type I diabetes. How nobody caught it, you'll never know. Your doctor explained that the symptoms manifested themselves during this pregnancy.

Andy made sure you ate at frequently to keep your blood sugar steady, he made sure that you took your insulin, and he made sure that you drank plenty of water. He always brought you some juice, too, in case you started to go into diabetic shock. He even made sure that you checked your blood sugar before you ate and made sure that you checked your blood sugar often.

You were pregnant with baby number two. You now had to live daily life as an insulin dependent diabetic who was pregnant.

"Oh, honey. I know you didn't ask for this", says Andy, who is now giving you a foot rub.

"I know, Andy", you say, yawning.

You start going to sleep, and Andy covers you with a blanket. He kisses you on the cheek, and goes back to help Joy clean the kitchen, and wash up after lunch.

You're resting in bed, knitting a pair of booties for Penelope, when you felt a sharp pain. Andy comes up to check on you, and he sees you doubled over.

"Andy, I think it's time. AH!"you scream in pain.

Andy helps get you up, and places his arm around you. He kisses your forehead.

"Are you sure it isn't Braxton Hicks?" asks Andy. Andy fetches you a glass of water. You drink the water.

You drink the water, the half an hour later, another contraction washes over you. Andy calls the doctor, and tells Andy to get you to the hospital. Given your type I diabetes, your doctor didn't want to take chances and wait. The sooner you set up on a fetal monitor, blood sugar monitor, and insulin pump, the better.

Andy manages to get you to the hospital. The nurse sets you up on a fetal monitor and an insulin pump, and a blood sugar monitor. Eventually, your contractions get closer together. You're ready to deliver, so Andy puts on scrubs, and you start to push. Joy Grace is with your brother, and you're glad that she isn't witnessing you give birth. That's not a thing for a child to witness.

Penelope Rose is born, and you and Andy both get to hold her. It's amazing, and you feel lucky. You're lucky that you're alive. You're lucky that you are now navigating life as a type I diabetic. You feel lucky that Andy is not only caring, he is loving, and is an amazing husband.

Several weeks later, Andy takes Joy and you and Penelope to the beach. You slather on sunscreen on Joy, you put Penelope in her cute onesie, a cute bucket hat, and slather on sunscreen on her. Andy made sure to pack plenty of water in the cooler, along with plenty of snacks for you to help keep your sugar up. Andy also makes sure that you are checking your sugar, and are eating at proper intervals. Andy and Joy play in the water, and you sit and read your book, while keeping an eye on Penelope. You breast feed Penelope when she gets hungry.

Eventually, Andy gets him, Joy, and you a hot dog, along with some lemonade for him and Joy, and water for you. You all enjoy your picnic, and then watch the sunset. You all stop at your favorite seafood place for dinner, and you and Andy get the clam chowder, along with the side salad. Joy is happily eating her fish sticks with fries and her veggies. Penelope is sleeping in the stroller. Joy keeps trying to get Penelope to eat, but you and Andy explain that Penelope has to eat differently. You feed Penelope the way you fed Joy when she was a baby. You explain that Penelope drinks your milk directly from your breast, and that Joy did exactly the same when she was a baby.

When Andy pays the bill, you take the keys to the Audi. You get in the front seat, and breast feed Penelope. You check your sugars, and they are good. You, Joy, and Penelope fall asleep on the way home. When you get home, Andy checks your Dexcom. Your sugar is a little low, so he wakes you up, and brings you a small snack, along with some juice and some water.

"Andy, you are one amazing and loving husband. Laurie and Jacob missed out. I love you so much, and I love the girls so much," you say.

Andy smiles.

"I love you, too, Joelle. I love you and the girls so much," says Andy.

#andy barber #fluff #childbirth #seafood #beach #family day #family life

15 notes · View notes