Title: I've Known Them For A Lifetime Author: little Starbuck* Rating: PG Category: MSR, future, William-POV Feedback: Yes Please! Send to starbuck42ajw@yahoo.com Disclaimer: Not mine, never will be! Spoilers: Early season nine (premiere... woo-hoo!) Distribution: I would be happy to share, please keep my name on it. Summary: When your parents are your best friends, it's easy to see how much they love each other. ~*Pleeze Enjoy*~ I've Known Them For A Lifetime by little Starbuck* ***** Ever since I was a kid, I've always come up here to be alone. Mom would have a cow if she knew. She always was very protective of me... but up on the roof, I feel like I'm the only one in the world. Here, I can clear my mind, think things through, even talk to myself if I need to. I haven't been up here in years, of course... but it still holds the same meaning for me. It's my special place. ***** I've known them for a lifetime, and I'd never say it out loud, but my parents mean more to me than anything in the world. They always have. I guess I didn't have a whole lot of friends through school, you know... being "special", and all... but Mom was always there for me. She was my best friend. We'd play games and tell stories together. She'd talk about Dad all the time before he came back. Mom waited for him for four years. That's why, from a very young age, I knew that my parents loved each other more than any other couple in the world. That was something I was always proud of. When I started junior high, things began to change. They began to tell me things I couldn't quite understand... stories and little factoids about me that really made no sense at all. I remember laying in bed one night, when I was about twelve, and Mom told me something I would never forget. "You know, Will, we've always said you're special. You are... to your Dad and me... you are to the rest of the world. You know what a miracle is, don't you?" She'd asked. "Yes." "You are a miracle, Will. And, I know you've heard it before... but you were sent here as a gift. To me, to all of us, I don't know... you understand what I'm telling you?" "I... am superman!" I laughed at my little analogy. She giggled a bit as well, which was a rare sight that I thoroughly enjoyed. "Exactly. Sleep well, honey!" At the time, I had no clue what our little "talk" had meant. Dad was very different from Mom. Total opposites, they were, which made me wonder, on numerous occasions, why they ended up together. They'd fight for hours, but it was just too hard for them to stay angry with each other. Often times, I would be the "Band-Aid" for them. That's what Dad called it. "You're such a Band-Aid, William!" I remember the first time he told me that. It had been the night after another meaningless fight. "What?!?" I had asked, perceiving his comment as an insult. "No... you're what keep me and your Mom from fighting ourselves to death. We used to do that all the time, you know?" "You did?" "Yeah... when we worked together. I would, uh, get an idea in my head, but she'd already have an idea of her own, and there's no persuading your Mom. So we'd fight about some stupid theory for days, sometimes weeks at a time. Then you came along. I guess that's when we realized that there was more to appreciate in life... You changed us, I guess." He smiled and kissed me on the head. Dad would often talk about the past. I don't know if it was because he missed it or what... but, I enjoyed his stories. I still do. There were plenty of good memories when I was young. Plenty when I was older, too. I gradually found out why I was so "special" in everyone's eyes. I gradually found out why my parents were so protective. And, I saw how much my parents loved each other. That was the best part... those were the best memories. I can recall one day, very vividly. I was extremely young... I'm surprised I remember it at all. The reason I do must be the fact that it had such a profound impact on my life. I think I was four at the time. My Dad hadn't come back yet and there had been much talk of Mom marrying someone else. I didn't understand why she needed a husband at all. I thought she was doing a great job raising me by herself. "Will, we're going to have a visitor come to our house for awhile. Can you be extra good for me?" Thus began the "dating drill" every weekend. She didn't want to go out with other men. She had always been loyal to my dad, but I think she did it to make her own mother happy, to make everyone else think she was happy. She never was. "When is Daddy going to visit us, Mom?" I'd ask, not knowing what pain my words caused her. "Soon, I hope... Do you miss him?" She'd ask me that question from time to time. I knew she missed him. I think I did too. This man I called "Daddy" would drop by our house a few times a year, just to see my Mom for an hour. I didn't know him well... but I liked him more than the other people she brought over. She gave me a framed photograph of him once. Sometimes, when I was sure she wasn't looking, I'd talk to it. I don't think I knew what a "daddy" was, at the time, but I felt like something was missing... something that was there for a short while, but then was taken away. "There's his taxi! Mark... his name's Mark. I wouldn't want to screw that up again, would I?" I walked into the living room to see my mother peering out the window, looking her best for her "date". I giggled as she reprimanded herself for forgetting the name of her last date. "Who's there, Mommy?" I stood next to her and strained to see out. "Oh... my God." She whispered as tears filled her eyes. I knew it wasn't who she'd expected. She ran to the door and waited for the knock. It seemed like an eternity, waiting... "Anyone home?" A deep voice penetrated the door... and Mom's heart. She burst into tears, sobbing as she opened the door and fell into his arms. I had never seen my mother like this before, and frankly I was a little scared... until I saw the man's face and knew exactly who it was. "DADDY!" I ran to him and wrapped my arms around his legs. "William! You know who I am? You remember me?" He whispered, kneeling down to match my height. "You are Mohl-dur." I sounded out his name, "Please don't go away from Mommy and me again." I begged, tugging at his tee-shirt. He stared at me for a moment in complete awe. "Obviously, someone's been doing some talking," He glanced up at Mom, who was still rather teary eyed, "I'm not leaving, William. Not this time!" He embraced me again. Suddenly, this tiny four year old kid came to an epiphany. I had a new understanding of the word "daddy." This man, who loved us so much... he was my Daddy. And, suddenly, it was like he never left. That thing that was there at the beginning had come back. After that day, Mom never cried. Dad and I became extremely close... but not closer than he and Mom. I could never top that! It was amazing to watch them together. From a child's point of view, love is a remarkable thing. I grew up feeling safe and protected. I carried that feeling with me all through life... and I never made two better friends than my Mom and my Dad. ***** So, I've come back home. They're old now... they need my help. I suppose there is a point in a kid's life where they become the parent, and the parent becomes the child. But, I don't think they really need me that way... all they really need is each other. They hobble around the house together now, (Yes, a house. We couldn't stay in that little apartment forever.) They sit and watch sunsets and listen to Elvis, occasionally laughing. "He's not dead, Scully." Dad will say. Mom will simply shake her head and smile. They don't fight about stupid theories anymore. Watching these two get old together has truly been a gift. They've changed so much, but at the same time they haven't changed at all. They know their "time" is coming. But, they aren't afraid. Occasionally they'll ask how I've been handling my life alone. Continually, I remind them that I'm not alone, that I live with Grace, my fiance. They'll say they forgot, but I know they didn't. That's not what they mean. They still worry about their "special" little boy. They worry about how I'll live without them watching my back. That's why I'm here now... to provide some sort of comfort. Knowing my parents like I do, I know that when they go... they'll go together. One won't jump without the other. I've known them for a lifetime. I know their secrets and I know their fears. But, no one knows my Mom and Dad like they know one another. ~*The End*~ Notes: I felt compelled to write a story about Mulder coming back- since he apparently leaves his new family next season, and who knows if we'll ever see him on the show again (I happen to believe that he's not leaving forever though- Mulder just wouldn't do that!)... I hope you enjoyed it- Feedback is always treasured and eventually, always answered (I won't pretend not to procrastinate at times :). And, as always, recommendations make my day :) Have a great one!