Life from the Ashes Book 4 - Yours, Mine, & Ours

by Jo B.
purplefox@usfamily.net

Rating: NC-17
Keywords: M/Sk/K SLASH
Disclaimer: The X-Files characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, Walter Skinner, Jeffrey Spender, CSM, the Lone Gunmen, Kimberly Cook, Senator Matheson, Bill Scully, the morph etc. are the property Chris Carter, 1013 productions and Fox Broadcasting. All other characters in the series are mine.
Summary: This is an Alternative Universe Story. It takes place after an alien virus has killed off most of the world's females and caused mutations in forty-five percent of the remaining males.
Authors Notes: This is the fourth book in my AU series "Life from the Ashes - Yours, Mine, and Ours." You might want to read the prequel and the first three books of the series to understand this one.
I would like to thank my beta-readers Nicole, Laurie, Tarlan, Dawn, Cerulean Blue, Kiyoko, Michael, Bee Lan, and Susan for all their hard work and patience in editing this story and plot suggestions.
Feedback is always welcome. Any constructive suggestions are appreciated.
WARNING! This story contains explicit Sex/Romance between two or more men. Turn back now, if the subject matter offends you.
Okay to Archive: please ask first.

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***

Chapter 1
Outside Menace

Crystal Palace
Thursday, July 20
7:00 p.m.

Skinner lifted the towel, letting out some vapor, and peered under it at Mulder's miserable face. "How are you feeling?"

"Better, but not by much," Mulder grumbled. His sinuses were stuffy and he was feeling extremely worn-out. It was only seven o'clock at night and all he wanted to do was crawl into bed and sleep for the rest of the night.

"Oh poor, baby."

Skinner chuckled at the pissed off look Mulder shot him. "Come out from under there. Jacques has sent up a nice and healthy meal for us. Alex, the girls, and our nannies are in the dining room waiting for us. You know how grumpy Faith gets when she's made to wait."

Mulder sighed and turned off the vaporizer then laid the towel over the back of the chair. "What's the point of eating? I'm only going to throw it all up again."

"You're not just eating for you, Fox, think of the babies," Skinner said as they walked down the long hallway to their private dining room.

"I know, I know, why do you think I'm even going to the dining room at all?" Mulder forced a smile onto his face as he entered the room. "Sorry to keep everyone waiting," he said, nodding to Alex, then at their six nannies, four women and two men. Skinner had wanted to get the nannies situated early, well before the babies were born.

"How are you feeling, Fox?" Alex asked.

"Fine." Mulder sat down at the head of the oblong table with Walter to his right and Alex to his left. He much preferred the round dining room tables downstairs without an obvious head. Their nannies had been surprised to find that he was the supposed head of the family, and not the King or Prince Alex. They looked at him in a new light after that first dinner together three days ago and he didn't even try to correct their mistaken assumption. In reality, there was no head of their household; they were all equal partners. They had established the seating arrangement during the early days of their relationship when Walter and Alex weren't too enamoured with each other. In the months that followed, it had just become routine. Deep down Mulder got a secret pleasure from being at the head of the table, but he would never admit that bit of vanity to his lovers.

Two men from the kitchen served the meal to the family. Skinner took the time to feed his daughter. With his busy schedule, he tried to fit in as much time for Hope as possible. He envied Alex and Fox who had more free time to spend with both girls.

Mulder spent a moment pushing around the mashed rutabagas on his plate; he hated rutabagas, maybe some extra salt would help.

Skinner's hand met his on the saltshaker. "Everything is already nicely seasoned, Fox. Too much sodium isn't good for you. You already have more than your daily requirements in that slice of baked ham."

"I'm not eating the rutabagas then!" Mulder growled, irritated.

"How about sweet potatoes, Fox?" Alex asked, and the rutabagas vanished to be replaced with mashed sweet potatoes with a marshmallow melted on top.

Mulder smiled over at him. "Thanks, Alex."

Skinner shook his head in disgust. "Alex, substituting other foods sort of defeats the purpose of our Chef planning Fox's daily meals for their nutritional content."

"So is serving food we hate, Walter."

"There's nothing wrong with rutabagas. Look, Hope enjoys them."

"Faith hates them and so do I. Our staff gets to order what they want off the menu from the main dining room. We should get the same privilege," Krycek complained, looking down the table at their six nannies that were trying to pretend they weren't listening intently to the conversation at the other end of the table.

"Okay, Alex, I'll have Jacques prepare alternatives," Skinner grudgingly agreed, and glanced over at Fox who had been unusually quiet throughout their discussion. Fox had his eyes closed and he was breathing through his mouth.

"Fox, are you okay?"

Mulder didn't bother to open his eyes. "I'm just feeling a little dizzy...it should pass. One good thing about having stuffy sinuses is at least I don't have to smell those rutabagas," he said, opening one eye to peer at Walter.

"Okay, okay, no more rutabagas."

"Good. So, Bear, when are Uncle Kostya and your three lunatic cousins going to invade us?" Mulder asked opening his eyes as the discomfort finally passed.

"My cousins are not crazy. They and Uncle Kostya have agreed to move to the island next month. Yori and Lev are very concerned about you, and they're hell bent on seeing that you are taken care of properly," Skinner grinned.

"Oh great. You did say that they wanted to move into a cottage in the village didn't you?"

"Nope. Only Uncle Kostya, Anton, and Andrei want to move into the village. Yori and Lev will be moving with their sons, into part of our floor to look after you until the babies are born."

"No, Walter. Please, don't let them. I don't think I could stand the two of them ganging up on me," Mulder whined.

"Fox, you and Alex love Lev's cooking. I'm sure Lev and Jacques can work together in preparing us some meals we'd all love."

Mulder sighed, giving up, he knew certain fights he'd never win with Walter. "Yeah, I'd even settle for some of Yori's borsch ..." He stopped and licked his lips. "Hmm, in fact that does sound really good, with a dollop of sour cream," Mulder said. He shoved his untouched meal away and looked pleadingly at his beautiful lover. "Alex, I want some now, please."

Krycek looked sadly back. "Fox, you know that I can only..." He waved his hand around in the air. "...Every four hours. I'm not as strong as I used to be."

"Walter?" Mulder said, turning to face his other lover.

"Fox, you know that I am not any good at matter transformation."

"Okay, fine, just forget I even asked." Mulder pouted, then muttered under his breath, "If you loved me you'd have gotten it for me." He picked up his fork and started slowly pushing his food around on the plate.

"Okay, okay, Fox. I'll call the kitchen and have someone there make you a bowl." Skinner quickly jumped up and headed for the nearest phone. It didn't even occur to him to teleport the phone to him; he was so intent on making his lover happy, that all logical thoughts vanished.

"Smooth, Fox," Alex said approvingly.

Mulder shrugged his shoulders and started eating the sweet potatoes and ham, while he waited for Walter to get back with his borsch.

***

Seraphim Home World

King Xowolfe looked down at the Bounty Hunter from his throne. They had used the portal to convey him back from the Earth where he had been stranded since the botched invasion. "Do you have a recommendation?"

"Master, if you move with enough force you should be able to liberate four of the lesser protected immortals from their sorcerer captors," the morph said without any emotion.

"But not Xofox." The King didn't need to state it out loud, it was clear to him that his mate was protected by one of the Earth's most powerful sorcerers. "Very well, I will assemble my warriors to rescue the immortals who are within our reach. Give my General the coordinates for each of these immortals. We will need to take them all in one night or risk losing the opportunity all together."

"Master, the one you refer to as Xofox is strong-willed. His pride will eventually lead him into your hands."

"Maybe. You will go back to Earth and keep watch."

"Yes, Master."

***

Crystal Palace
Thursday, July 27
1:00 p.m.

"Scully, why don't you take the rest of the day off?" Mulder asked as he looked over at his partner whose face was etched with exhaustion and discomfort. She had been unusually grumpy today.

"I'm fine, Mulder."

"No offense, Scully, but you really look like crap."

Scully glared at him and snapped, "Mulder, I said that I was fin ... Oh dear." Her eyes widened as she looked down at a puddle quickly forming under her chair. "My water just broke," she muttered.

Mulder jumped to his feet. "Okay, don't panic," he said, heading over to her. "We'll take the horizontal lift to the hospital ... I better call Jonathan first." He spun around and headed back toward his desk. Scully cried out in pain and he spun back to face her, completely forgetting what he was about to do. His eyes grew wide with panic.

"The phone, Mulder, call Jonathan," she groaned, holding onto the desk, she pulled herself up and stood on shaky legs.

"Oh, right." Mulder grabbed the phone and quickly called Scully's husband.

Jonathan told Mulder he'd meet them at the hospital. Mulder nodded only half hearing Jonathan; his attention was focused on Scully who was bent over her desk in pain. As she straightened, he hung up and went to help her to the door.

Scully took tiny steps; she was barefoot, having removed her uncomfortable, damp shoes. Her panties were soaked and halfway to the door she wished she had removed those, too. Mulder put his arm around her back to help support her as they left the office, stepping out into the new X-Files offices. All the other agents stopped their work as they passed their cubicles on their way to the service corridor that led to the horizontal lift. Scully doubled over in pain as an intense contraction struck her. It was less than a minute from the last one.

Agent Sullivan rushed over to them. "Do you need any help?" He noticed that the back of Scully's dress was wet, and knew immediately what was happening.

"No, Jack. I'm taking Scully to the hospital. Can you tell Alex to meet me there when he gets back?" Mulder held Scully until the contraction ended, they then started walking down the hallway to the lift.

"Sure, Mulder. Hey, Dana, good luck," Sullivan called after them.

The doors to the lift opened, revealing a plush interior with six upholstered seats, three seats side-by-side faced the other three seats with a three-foot aisle between them. The horizontal lift consisted of thirty individual cars that ran on air inside a tunnel system throughout the immense palace. Mulder guided Scully to sit, she cried out again in pain. "It hurts, I can't sit!"

"Okay, don't panic, just lay down on the seat." He eased her into a reclining position. She moaned, as the lift doors closed and the car started moving.

"Mulder, I don't think I'm going to make it to the hospital," she said as another contraction ended.

"What!" Mulder squeaked. "You can't! You only just started having labor pains!" He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and started wiping the sweat from her face.

"I know, but they are already too close together!" She wasn't about to tell him about having what she thought were gas pain last night. Jonathan had suggested that they might be labor pains, but she had stubbornly refused to believe him, telling her husband that she'd know the difference between gas pains and labor pains. God, Mulder would never let her live it down if he found out.

"Just try to hold it in, okay? Squeeze your legs together. We should be there in five minutes."

"Mulder, having my baby here is not really something I want to do..." The lift came to an abrupt stop.

Mulder looked up at the lift's security camera. "ARTY! What's wrong with the lift?"

The metallic voice sounded in the small compartment. "Foxy, didn't you read my memo? The lift was schedule for its monthly routine systems check and will be down for the next twenty minutes."

Scully cried out again, her hand painfully clutching Mulder's arm.

"Arty, get this tin can moving NOW!" Mulder snarled.

"What's wrong with the female?" the metallic voice had a note of real concern to it.

"Arty! She having a baby!"

"Oh dear me. Sweetie, I'll get the lift restarted, but it will take at least ten minutes for all systems to get back on line."

"Oh God, Mulder," Scully screamed.

"Scully, I should probably remove your ah...panties," Mulder said, blushing. He then helped her out of her wet underpants and swallowed when he noticed the crown of the baby's head. "Okay, breathe. Do you have a focus point?"

"My cross."

Mulder was removing it when Scully's husband's voice sounded over the intercom. "Dana, honey, how are you doing?"

"I'M FINE!" She yelled up at the camera, and grumbled under her breath, "I always planned to have my partner deliver our baby!"

Mulder shrugged his shoulders and held her cross up for her to focus on, then looked back up at the camera. "Jonathan, she's a little busy right now."

"We'll have the lift moving in a few minutes, tell Dana to try to hold on until then."

"I don't think she has a few minutes. The baby's head has crowned."

"Damn." Jonathan paused. "Mulder, you are going to have to make sure the cord isn't wrapped around his neck. I want you to reach your hand..." his voice was interrupted as Scully cried out again.

"Auuuggghhh!" she groaned and pushed with the contraction.

Mulder eyes widened in fascination as the baby was being delivered in a rush of fluids, he instinctually reached out and supported the infant's head and body on the way out of its mother. He felt a wave of nausea at the messy birth. "...Oh, wow...this is so cool," Mulder mumbled nervously, scooping up the slippery infant with trembling hands, unmindful of the fluids that were staining his suit and shirt. He used his finger to clean out the infant's mouth. The baby started crying. Although, he already knew the baby would be a boy, he double-checked anyway. "Too late, Jonathan. Congratulations, you just became a Dad." He placed infant on Scully's chest and kept his hand on the infant's back, until his partner was able to wrap her arms around her newborn son. "And, Dad, I'll save the cutting of the umbilical cord for you," Mulder said, smirking back up at the security camera.

"Mulder, you'll need to tie off the umbilical cord," Jonathan said.

"With what?"

"Use your shoelace."

Mulder removed a shoelace from his shoe. He made a face as he tied it tightly around the umbilical cord. He then took off his suit coat and covered Scully and the baby. He leaned forward and kissed his partner on her forehead. "Not bad, Scully, but the next time would ya give me a little more warning."

"Shut up, Mulder," she sighed, and smiled up at him as the lift started moving again. "I did it, didn't I? I finally have my own baby." She looked down at the tiny head cradled on her bosom.

"Yeah, you really did." Mulder wiped at a tear that ran down his cheek as he leaned forward again to kiss her. He was overjoyed to finally see his partner and best friend with a look of pure bliss and contentment on her tired face. It was the first time since the virus. The lift stopped again and the doors opened. Mulder stepped out of the way, as Jonathan rushed in and knelt beside his wife and son.

"Dana, I love you," Jonathan said.

The paramedics held back, waiting outside the lift with a stretcher.

Mulder stepped off the lift and met Walter who had come down upon hearing the news. "How is she?"

"Fine. She still has to deliver the placenta, but I'll leave that to the professionals." Mulder smiled, shaking his head and grinning foolishly. "It was so cool, Walter. I can't believe I actually helped deliver Scully's baby! God, I feel so...wired."

"You did good, Fox." Skinner pulled his lover into a hug.

Mulder rested his head on Walter's shoulder, and watched as the paramedics carried Scully and her new son off the lift, they headed down the corridor toward the hospital he sighed, "Walter, what's your schedule like for the rest of the afternoon?"

Skinner felt the hardness of his lover's groin pressing against his. "I have a meeting with the Governor from Illinois, but I can reschedule it for tomorrow afternoon, if you have something more important in mind?" He was mindful of the men watching them, it was important to Walter that they knew how much Fox and he loved each other.

Mulder nipped at his earlobe. "I have something very important in mind," he purred, holding his breath to keep the nausea at bay. The smell of Walter's after-shave was making him sick to his stomach, and it wouldn't do to throw up on his lover in public.

Skinner pulled back and noticed that Mulder didn't look well. "Fox, are you okay?"

"Walter, did you change after-shaves?"

"No. Why?"

Mulder made a sour face. "It smells different, Walter. It's making me ill. When we get home, I want you to take a shower." He grabbed Skinner's hand and pulled him in the direction of their home.

"I don't see how the smell could make you ill, Fox. You've had stuffy sinuses for the past week, I'm surprised you can even smell it at all," Skinner complained.

"Believe me, that toxic brew you have splashed on your skin has gotten through my clogged sinuses. If you love me you'll dump the bottle down the drain."

"Fox, if it is making you sick, I have no intention of using it again. But you are going to have to go shopping with me to find an after-shave that we both like."

Mulder smiled at him. "Deal, Walter. Does this mean that we are going to leave the island?"

"I don't see why, the palace and the village have stores we could go to."

"I want to go to New York City." Mulder looked over at him and beamed with enthusiasm. "We could make an entire weekend of it. Maybe take in one of the new shows on Broadway. Walter, you haven't had a whole day off since becoming King."

Skinner was hesitant; he was concerned about leaving the protection of the island with his pregnant lover. He didn't want to put their unborn babies in harms way. He knew that eventually he'd have to stand aside and watch as Fox and Alex went back on field assignments, but he had hoped that it would be after the birth of their children, when Fox would have the power to render himself invisible. "What about Alex and the girls?"

"We hired the nannies for a reason, Walter. If it will make you feel better, Alex can stay behind and supervise them. Besides he still owes me a honeymoon, so this time, it will just be me and you on a long romantic weekend alone." They stopped in front of the elevator.

Skinner reached out and brushed the backs of his fingers over Mulder's smooth cheek, since becoming pregnant, his lover's facial hair was growing slower and was less coarse. "Okay, Fox, as you know I haven't been able to say no to you lately." As they stepped inside the elevator Skinner pulled him into a kiss.

Mulder gagged and pushed him away, holding his hand over his mouth he rushed off the elevator. He turned back to face his exasperated lover with a slightly green complexion. "Sorry, Walter, I'm going to take another elevator. Please, take a shower."

Skinner tilted his head toward the ceiling and closed his eyes; he frowned as the elevator doors closed. "Fuck."

"He did inform you about how badly you smelled, Your Majesty. You shouldn't have tried to kiss him."

"Arty, you're already in enough trouble. Don't press your luck further."

"The lift incident wasn't my fault. Prince Fox should have read my memo."

"Arty, if you cause one more incident that puts someone's life in danger or causes Fox any undo stress, I will personally pull your plug!" He was going to have to get that computer reprogrammed, he thought darkly as he exited the elevator on his floor, and headed for his and his lovers' bedroom. Skinner called his assistant to have her reschedule his appointment with the Illinois Governor for tomorrow.

Mulder stopped in his daughters' bedrooms first. A large archway connected the two rooms, and Mulder still marveled at the fairytale quality of the decor. They had duplicated the bedrooms from those at their former estate with Hope's room resembling a summer garden and Faith's room a winter wonderland. Vicky and Sean were reading to them on a window bench. Mulder stood in the doorway, smiling at the animated way Sean read his part of book that had both girls giggling with delight. The two nannies finally noticed his presence.

"Mulder, you're home from work early," Vicky said, her eyes taking in his stained clothing.

"My partner went into labor and delivered her baby about twenty minutes ago." Mulder bent down and hugged his daughters as they came running to him. "How are my two little terrors behaving?"

"Be good, Daadee," Faith said, touching his face.

"They are both behaving well enough. How is Dana doing?" Vicky stood and stretched.

"She was a little shocked, but other than that she's fine. It all happened so quickly."

"That would explain your shirt," Vicky said, touching the pinkish stain on his sleeve. "I'll have to stop and visit Dana tomorrow."

"Scully will like that. So what do you two have planned for the rest of the afternoon?"

"We were going to take the girls down to the gardens," Sean said.

Mulder smiled. "That's a good idea. King Walter is home and I would like to spend some uninterrupted time alone with him," he said, hugging Hope and passing her over to Sean.

"We'll keep them busy for at least two hours," Sean promised.

"Thanks. Have fun, Cutie," Mulder said, kissing Faith goodbye and handing her to Vicky. He left the bedroom and headed next door to his own room. He heard the shower running and quickly removed his soiled clothes, making a face at the stains on his white shirt and light gray slacks. "Yuck." He didn't realize how stained his clothes had gotten. He dumped them in the laundry hamper.

Mulder ascended the steps to the bathroom and stopped at the top, taking in Walter's magnificent body as the large man soaped himself. Their eyes locked, and Mulder suddenly became self-conscious as his lover's eyes roved hungrily over his body and stopped at the slight swell of his belly. Mulder realized that at nearly twelve weeks of pregnancy he was already showing, where the other immortals had still been as flat as boards. He blushed feeling all of a sudden humiliated by his appearance, he turned to go back down the steps for his robe.

Skinner rushed out of the shower to stop his lover from leaving. "Oh no, you don't." His arms wrapped around Mulder's waist from behind and pulled him backward up the steps, and against his soap-slicked chest.

"Walter, let go...I'm cold...I was just going to get my robe."

"Oh no, you're not. If you're cold, come into the shower with me," he said, dragging the younger man across cool, clay-tiled floor toward the shower. "You really have nothing to be embarrassed about, Fox, you're still unbelievably sexy, even more so." Skinner's hand cupped the slight bulge of Mulder's belly as they stood under the shower spray. His mouth latched onto the side of Mulder's throat nipping and sucking. "So, very fucking sexy," he purred.

Mulder moaned and pushed back, his ass grinding it into the hard bulge of Skinner's erection. "You almost have me believing you, Bear." The hot water pelting his skin felt almost as wonderful as being held in Walter's embrace.

"I'd never lie to you, Fox. If I ever do, may lightening strike me," Skinner's fingers moved up to brush and pinch Mulder's nipples.

Mulder bucked and cried out in pain. "Oh fuck! Don't touch me there, it hurts."

"What? Fox, I'm sorry, I didn't know."

Mulder turned around in Skinner's arms and buried his head in the crook of the bigger man's shoulder. "Oh great, how embarrassing. I have sore nipples."

Skinner couldn't help chuckling and hugging him tighter. "Fox, I love your nipples, but I guess for your comfort I'll make a ultimate sacrifice and not touch them. It does seem unusually cruel. You will tell me the moment your nipples aren't sore, won't you?"

"Asshole."

"Yes, it is..." Skinner's fingers raked down Mulder's crease and over the tight, rosebud opening. "... Another part of your body that I love."

Mulder raised his head off Skinner's shoulder and looked into his amused brown eyes and smirked back. "Thanks, Walter, you do know what to say to make me feel better." He kissed him gently on the lips. "Now I want you to fuck me, but not there," Mulder said, pulling Skinner's hand away from his ass he placed it over his navel. "Here."

"Fox, I don't think that would be safe...I might hurt you and the babies."

"Doctor Pendrell told Shinji that it was okay when he was pregnant."

"Yeah, but Rory and Kazuo refused to have intercourse with him there, and besides you're pregnant with three babies, not one."

Mulder sulked; he was feeling incredibly horny and longed for the ultimate sensation of Walter's large cock inside his navel orifice. "We have our appointment with Doctor Pendrell tomorrow morning for the ultrasound. Walter, if he says it is okay then would you?"

"Fox, if he can assure me that it would be a hundred percent safe, then okay."

"Walter, nothing is ever a hundred percent safe."

Skinner caressed Mulder's cheek. "Fox, I love you, but I won't be put in a position of jeopardizing your health or that of our unborn babies. There is nothing wrong with continuing to make love the way we always have," he said as he reached down and started stroking Mulder's cock and with his other hand he turned Mulder's face so he could capture his lips in a sweet kiss.

Mulder pulled away, and looked deeply into Walter's eyes as his hand reached down to stop his lover from stroking his cock. "So, is that a promise?"

"What?"

"That when I'm as big as a house, you'd still have sex with me?"

"Yeah, it's a promise. Fox, I love you, and I'll always want to make love to you."

"Duffy never had sex with Ari while he was pregnant. He was too afraid of hurting him," Mulder challenged, hoping to convince Walter that since he was being overly cautious now that his lover was really going to be impossible when he was nearing the end of his pregnancy.

"Fox, Duffy still hasn't had sex with Ari, he's too afraid of hurting him."

Mulder sighed; he had hoped that Walter didn't know about that. Ari was complaining to him only yesterday about how Duffy was still treating him like he was a piece of fine porcelain, and how he wanted to have sex with his giant lover in the worst way. "How did you know that?"

Skinner smirked. "Duffy told me. Fox, we aren't in the same situation as Duffy and Ari. I plan on making love to you throughout your pregnancy, just not through your navel."

Mulder took his hand in a firm grip and smiled seductively, pulling him out from under the pulsating spray of the showerhead. "I'm going to hold you to that, Bear. Let's get out of the shower, before we're too shriveled up to have sex," he quipped. "I want to make love outside in the sunshine."

They made their way down the steps and out onto the veranda. Mulder stretched and turned, enjoying the feel of the hot, afternoon sun on his wet flesh.

Walter stood silently watching him. Admiring the well-toned body from the perfect round buttocks to the long legs capped by well-proportioned feet. The dusky-rose nipples looked darker today and stood out more pronounced against the tan flesh of Fox's chest. Delicious. Walter was longing to take them into his mouth and bring his lover to orgasm just by the sensation of his lips and teeth sucking and teasing those perfect nubs. Fox had no obvious tan lines, Walter smiled at that, watching Fox turn once more in the bright sunlight with his eyes closed and his face tilted up toward the sun. Fox and Alex both preferred sunbathing in the nude. Neither man had any shame over displaying their bodies openly on the private portion of beach they shared with their friends. He only hoped that Fox wouldn't start becoming self-conscious about his appearance, as his body started to show his pregnancy more and more. Even the slight swell of Fox's belly didn't diminish his overall beauty; it only made him more erotic looking in Walter's eyes. Walter finally rested his eyes on Fox's erect cock, standing proud against the tanned flesh of his belly.

"Are you just going to stand there staring all day?" Mulder's voice teased.

"I'm only taking a mental snapshot to help get me through the rest of my week," Skinner said, walking over to his lover. "You are so beautiful, Fox." He held Fox's head between his hands then leaned in to kiss those full lips. "So, so very beautiful..." he purred.

Mulder wrapped his arms around Walter's neck and pulled their bodies closer together as he sucked hungrily on his lover's probing tongue. He felt the ground suddenly drop out from under him as Walter lowered him onto a canvas mat they had spread out on the tiled floor of the veranda. Walter's muscular body covered his, while Walter's knee spread his thighs further apart and nudged at his scrotum. They continued to kiss for several minutes as the sun made their bodies slick with sweat.

"How do you want it?" Skinner finally asked, licking a path down Mulder's jaw line. He needed to relieve the throbbing pressure in his balls soon or he would explode.

"On my back, with my legs over your shoulders. I like watching your face, Walter. You're so incredibly sexy when you come."

Skinner knelt between his lover's parted thighs and grabbed a bottle of coconut suntan oil and slicked up his cock and prepared his lover. "Nothing's going to change, Fox. You don't have to worry about me not wanting to stuff that gorgeous ass of yours," Skinner said, stretching Mulder with two fingers, he nudged playfully against the younger man's prostate, and Mulder moaned and clenched down on his fingers. Skinner chuckled. "So deliciously tight, who in their right mind would ever turn down the opportunity to have their cock sheathed in such a wonderfully snug hole."

"Walter, I hope you don't consider my asshole to be my best feature."

"No, babe, it's one of many. I love your penis and balls, too," Skinner murmured, rubbing some of the suntan oil onto Mulder's hard organ while his other hand continued to stretch him. "Your nipples look so delectable I'm dying to devour them. Are you sure they're too sore?"

Mulder sighed contentedly over his lover's dual manipulation of his ass and cock. "Yeah, I wish they weren't. I'd like nothing better than to feel your mouth on me there. You know how sensitive my nipples are."

Skinner watched Mulder's face as he positioned his cockhead at his tight anus, and pushed the head inside with a slight pop. "Yeah, they've always been one of your biggest erogenous zones. Have you ever thought about what it will be like nursing our babies?"

Mulder moaned as his lover sank all the way into his body filling him and stretching him to the limit. "Oh God, you don't think I'll get turned on sexually do you? That would be horrifying," he gasped, staring up at his lover's face.

Skinner smiled reassuringly. "I wouldn't view it as horrifying, Fox. It's not as if you'd be having sexual thoughts toward our children. It would be your body's normal response to the stimulation. Something you would have no control over. Besides, maybe the stimulation from nursing would be different than when I play with you there." He pulled out and pushed slowly back in, watching his lover's face intently.

"It would still be disturbing if I got a hard on while nursing our baby. God, the whole idea of nursing is too weird," Mulder pushed his hips up to meet Walter's downward thrust. He looked down at his nipples, which looked puffier. At least he knew what to expect, and knew that his nipples wouldn't look any different than they currently did, and he would remain flat-chested. The milk sacks were internal and not very large, they replenished with milk as fast as the baby nursed; the wonders of being an immortal. He had watched Duffy use the new pump designed for immortals on Ari; the giant filled three bottles with Ari's milk. Mulder smirked up at Walter as he reached down to stroke his cock in time with his lover's thrusts.

"What?"

"I know I'll get sexually aroused when you use that pump on me."

Walter felt himself become harder and he pushed into Fox faster, thinking about using that device on his lover had him extremely aroused. "You do realize how many bottles we are going to need to feed three babies."

"Two. I have no intention of nursing that creature's offspring, we can turn it over to your scientists to study."

Skinner kept his mouth shut, and thrust harder into his lover, his heavy sacks slapped against Fox's buttocks. He had no intention of turning the baby Seraphim over to anyone, if need be, he'd raise her himself. But Skinner knew he wouldn't have to, knowing Fox as he did, once his lover laid his hazel eyes on the baby, the cold barrier Fox had erected around his heart would melt like ice cream left out in the hot sun. It wasn't worth agitating Fox by arguing over it now.

Mulder didn't miss the dark shadow that passed over Walter's features; he couldn't understand his lover's feelings for the alien monster that was growing inside his body. It wasn't worth arguing with Walter over it now; his lover would have to accept his decision once the creature was born. He dropped his legs from Walter's shoulders and wrapped them around his waist, and pumped his cock faster seeking release. It pulsed once then shot its milky come over his belly and chest.

Skinner moaned as his lover's anal muscles bore down on his cock squeezing it in a viselike grip. He strained as he continued thrusting against the tight pressure surrounding his organ. "God, so good," he groaned. The feel of Fox's legs wrapped python-like around him and Fox's ankles digging into his ass as the young man opened himself wide to Walter, had the large man thrusting faster and harder seeking his own release. It came minutes later as the liquid heat from his loins pumped out its seed into Fox. He collapsed on his lover breathing heavily then rolled them both onto their sides on the sweat soaked canvas.

"We need another shower," Mulder chuckled. Feeling completely spent and wonderfully sated. He turned in Walter's arms and lowered his head to kiss the larger man's lips chastely, then rested his head on Walter's shoulder. "Have I mentioned how much I love you lately?" His fingers combed through Walter's chest hairs and caressed his muscular pecs.

"You know I can never hear those words enough from you, Fox."

"I love you, Bear."

Skinner smiled and kissed the top of his head. "I love you too, Fox."

"Good, now that we have been suitably sappy, do you want to take another shower? I want to go to the hospital to visit Scully and her baby," Mulder said, not making any attempt to get up.

"Let's rest for a few more minutes, babe," Skinner said, firmly holding Mulder in his arms. Mulder only sighed and closed his eyes listening to the soothing sound of Skinner's heart beating under his ear. The two men quickly fell to sleep, with the hot sun blazing down on them.

Krycek stepped out on the veranda a few minutes later. Taking in his lovers' vulnerability to the afternoon sun, he shook his head and looked over at the umbrella on the outdoor table, it moved, casting its shadow protectively over the two men.

Krycek turned and headed back out of the apartment, he wanted to talk to MacIver about their import/export business. MacIver wanted to take Ari on as a third partner and Alex wasn't too sure he wanted to be part of that arrangement.

Krycek took the stairs one level down to MacIver's floor.
He didn't have to search far, he found his friend and business partner in the nursery feeding his infant son.

MacIver looked up at Alex from the rocker and grinned. "Alex, I suppose you're here to discuss Ari."

"Yeah, I'd thought we should get it settle once and for all."

"Let me put Duncan to bed first, then we can go grab a beer and talk in the entertainment room." He set the bottle down, spread a white cloth over his shoulder and positioned his son's head over the cloth; then he gently rubbed Duncan's back. After a few moments, the infant let out a loud burp, getting a big grin from MacIver. "A chip off the old block." He wiped the baby's mouth and placed him in the bassinet.

"Where's Shinji? Do you want to take Duncan and Ayako into the entertainment room with us?"

"Shin is swimming in the pool downstairs with Kazuo. I'm on babysitting duty." MacIver walked over and looked inside a crib on the other side of the nursery, where Shinji and Kazuo's eight-month old daughter Ayako was sleeping. "They should be fine, Alex, I've been using my powers to keep an eagle eye on them. Come on, let's try to work out this problem you seem to have with Ari."

Alex followed MacIver out of the nursery and down a hallway to the spacious entertainment room. The Scotsman made a beeline for the bar.

Krycek took a seat on a barstool. "Rory, I don't have a problem with Ari. I just don't trust him. He admitted himself that he and his gang were into extortion, kidnapping, robbery, and assassinations. That isn't someone I'd want as a business partner."

"Alex, if you haven't noticed, our business isn't exactly on the up and up. Most of our profits are made from smuggling. Besides neither of us led the most law-abiding lives either."

"Rory, I worked for the United Nations and everything I did was for the good of mankind."

MacIver rolled his eyes as he filled a mug with beer from the tap. "Oh pleeaase, Alex, you've done things while working for the United Nations that I'm sure you aren't too proud of. I wouldn't have taken you on as a business partner if you were completely honest and ethical. The same goes for Ari. The lad has lost his entire gang except for Paul, Alex, and he needs this opportunity to rebuild his life almost as much as we need him. He has connections in Australia and that part of the world that we could use. Don't let your personal jealousy get in the way of a good business decision."

Krycek picked up the beer mug and took a sip. He'd have to brush his teeth later so Fox wouldn't know he'd been drinking. He and Walter had promised Fox that they would observe the same diet restrictions that he had to while he was pregnant. "I'm not jealous, Rory."

MacIver looked at Alex's pouty face. How someone with Alex's beauty could be jealous of anyone was beyond MacIver. "You are too, lad. And you have no reason to be. You have a lot more going for you than Ari does. Just because Fox has become friends with Ari that doesn't mean he's interested in him sexually. Fox is friends with Shinji and you don't seem to have a problem with that."

"Rory, it is not the same. Ari happens to be sexually interested in both Fox and Walter, he told Fox that he wanted either him or Walter to father his next child."

MacIver started to laugh. "Christ, lad, all that proves is that Ari has good taste. He's in love with Duffy and we both know that n'thrals are sterile. All Ari wants is for Fox or Walter to get him pregnant that doesn't mean he wants an ongoing relationship with them."

"Shove it, Rory, I don't want Fox or Walter getting another man pregnant!"

"That's something you'll have to talk to them about, Alex. Now as the *senior* business partner I want you to talk to Ari and try to work out your differences. You may find you have more in common with him than you thought."

Alex drained the rest of his beer. "Rory, I'll think about it, okay?"

"Alex, don't think, do it!" MacIver warned.

Krycek's eyes narrowed, he had never been intimidated by MacIver before, but there was just enough of a threat in the older man's voice to give him pause. "Rory, just because you are the senior partner doesn't make you the fucking boss! I'll talk to Ari, but *only* because I want to set a few things straight with that bastard."

MacIver ignored Krycek's outburst. "Good, lad. Now if you'll excuse me, Ayako is awake."

"Sure, I'll see you tomorrow, Rory."

Krycek stomped back upstairs. He hated being forced into doing something that he didn't want to. Rory did have a point though; Ari would be a benefit to their business. He would talk to the Aussie, if nothing else he could at least lay down the law about keeping his claws off Fox and Walter. If they came to some understanding then he'd discuss Ari becoming a full partner in his and Rory's business. Alex smiled it felt good to make a decision.

***

Crystal Palace
Friday, July 28
10:00 a.m.

Mulder lay on his back on the padded exam table. He was stripped down to his boxers, which were pulled down, below his belly. Mulder visibly shivered as Doctor Pendrell applied a cold jellylike substance to his belly.

"This will improve the transmission of sound from the transducer," Pendrell explained.

Krycek stood at the side of the exam table and reached down and took a hold of Mulder's hand, while Skinner stood at the head of the table combing his fingers through his lover's hair. Both men's faces were filled with concern.

The Doctor found their nervousness amusing. "This isn't going to hurt and, unfortunately, it also isn't going to tell us too much about the fetuses. We haven't found a safe device that can scan through the dense, opaque, outer layer of the pouch. We should; however, be able to compare the size, shape, and color of the fetal pouches against the ultrasound images done on other immortals at this stage of their pregnancy. The color of the pouches will give us an idea of the sexes of the babies, since we haven't had any luck doing an amniocentesis." The Doctor smiled reassuringly at his patient. "Waiting this long to become pregnant seems to have benefited you, Mulder, we now know what to expect throughout your seven months."

Pendrell placed the surface of the transducer against Mulder's belly and slowly moved it across -- an image appeared on the monitors. He pressed a button and a color print was made of the image, he moved the transducer some more until all three pouches appeared on the monitor.

Skinner leaned forward and watched as the image changed on the monitor. "Doctor, those dark, oval shapes are they...?"

"Yes, they're the fetal pouches, but this is strange...the one on the left is twice the size of the other two," he frowned with concern.

"What's wrong?" Krycek asked, squeezing Mulder's hand reassuringly.

"At this stage of development the fetal pouches should be the size of the two smaller pouches. The larger one must be the pouch containing the alien's offspring," he reasoned.

Mulder's nails dug into Alex's hand. "Could this...alien be a danger to the other two babies?"

"I won't lie to you, Mulder. It is possible that this life form could interfere with the development of the other two fetuses."

"How, Doctor? I thought the pouches were self-contained," Skinner asked, looking at the monitor, for the first time his concern over his own child took priority over that of the baby Seraphim.

"At the rate it appears to be growing, its birth cycle may be much shorter than seven months. I'm concerned that the other two babies will be born premature."

"Kyle, now that you know which one is the alien, couldn't you just operate and remove it?" Mulder asked, looking at the large shape on the monitor in disgust.

"Mulder..." Pendrell hesitated, he was about to tell him no, it was too risky, then changed his mind. "Okay, maybe that would be for the best. I'll schedule you for an exploratory surgery on Monday. I will not abort this fetus, unless I am sure that I don't endanger the other two fetuses by doing so. I want to get some more printouts of the pouches."

Mulder release a relieved breath. He was positive that the Doctor would be able to abort the alien fetus without harming the other fetuses. He looked up at Walter. "Sorry, Walter."

"Why, Fox? It isn't your fault that this life form has become a risk to our children."

Krycek looked at Pendrell. "You said, we'd be able to determine the sex of the babies by the color of their pouches."

"We should have been able to, but there appears to be some discrepancy in the colors. This one on the right is definitely a female, you can tell by the pouch's deep burgundy color. Now the middle pouch is burgundy, but there is the slightest tint of pink in it, if either pouch contained a male it would have been a pale pink. I think the alien's baby is interfering with the color of the middle pouch. You see how its pouch is a fifty-fifty mix of burgundy and pink?" the Doctor continued to make prints of the images on the monitor as he talked.

"So, Doc, your guess would be that both our babies are female?" Krycek questioned.

"That would be my guess, there is far more burgundy in the middle pouch than pink," the Doctor assured him. "Do you have anymore questions?"

"I do, Kyle, but would you mind if I got dressed first?" Mulder asked, looking up at him.

"No, let me get something to clean the jelly off your belly first."

Mulder sat up with Krycek's help as Skinner walked over and picked up the prints. Well, he wasn't going to get a son this go around, but now he'd be happy if the baby was healthy. It concerned him that the infant closest to the alien's offspring was causing a discrepancy in her pouch. He studied the prints. Then turned back to his lovers and their Doctor as Mulder put down the washcloth and started to dress.

"Doctor Pendrell, isn't there a test you can do to determine if the fetuses are healthy?" Skinner asked.

"Sorry, Your Majesty, but the pouches are impenetrable. If we were able to get a needle through the outer skin, I could have determined the sex that way," Pendrell replied.

"But wasn't that how you determined the sex of the other immortal's babies?" Krycek asked.

"No, we were able to do an amniocentesis from the gel inside the womb that is surrounding the pouches. Unfortunately, for some reason in Mulder's case, we weren't able to get a dependable reading. We might as well assume that it is the alien life form interfering again. Okay, Mulder what questions do you have?"

"I'm still getting morning sickness, I've been having a bad reaction to certain smells, my sinuses are congested, and my nipples are painfully sore."

"Mulder, the morning sickness should disappear shortly, if it doesn't I'll prescribe you some medicine to stop the vomiting. On the immortal timetable, you are already a couple weeks into your second trimester. You will start experiencing other changes in your body. For one, your heart will be pumping about twenty-percent more blood to increase the output of oxygen for the babies. You'll feel light-headed and dizzy at times. In a few weeks, you should start to feel your baby's first movements. You will have to urinate more frequently, and I expect you to have symptoms that the other immortals didn't go through, like backache and swelling of your ankles and hands..."

"Oh joy," Mulder muttered.

"Your sinuses probably won't clear up until after you give birth. Let me get you a copy of the report I've been putting together chronicling the other immortals' pregnancies. You can use it as a reference. I'll revise it to include Doctor Harolds' notes on Cory Greene's pregnancy. As you know Greene was pregnant with two babies and had some problems the other immortals didn't experience," Pendrell said, pulling out a GBC-bound document.

"Thanks, Kyle." Mulder took the document and scanned through it with his lovers looking over his shoulder. "This should come in handy. We'll see you on Monday."

"Mulder, be sure not to eat or drink anything after seven o'clock Sunday night. I'm scheduling you for a morning surgery. Please be here at seven o'clock Monday morning."

Mulder smiled nervously. It was just sinking in that he was going under the knife on Monday, and hopefully would finally be free of the unwanted parasite growing inside of him.

As they left the office, Skinner turned to Mulder. "Fox, do you still want to go to New York tomorrow?"

"Yes. It will help take my mind off the surgery on Monday. You don't mind supervising the nannies do you, Alex?"

"Nope. I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving them unsupervised. Once they have a little more experience the three of us can take a trip together, and leave them watching the children." Krycek wrapped his arm around Fox's waist. "I want you to have fun this weekend and don't worry about a thing."

"Thanks, Alex." Mulder relaxed against his body, he didn't want to think about anything, especially that thing growing inside him.

Skinner looked over at Krycek. "I'll see that he does."

They exited the elevator at the bottom of the hospital turret. "We'll see you after work tonight, Walter," Mulder said, taking Alex's hand he pulled his lover in the direction of the nearest horizontal lift.

"Don't work too hard, Fox. I want to see you both home on time tonight."

"Don't worry, Walter. Neither Fox nor I want to work late on a Friday night."

After Skinner was out of hearing, Mulder turned to Krycek. "Alex, I wish you wouldn't make promises for me. I have a pile of paperwork I have to get through today, and with Scully out on maternity leave it will take me well past eight o'clock tonight to get through it all."

"It can wait until..." He was going to say Monday, but Fox would be in the hospital that day and maybe Tuesday, too. "I'll help you with it, and what we don't finish by quitting time I'll take home and do it this weekend."

"Alex, you have your own work to do, and I don't expect or want any special favors." Mulder climbed on board the lift and sat in the furthest seat from the door, Alex sat next time him.

"It's hardly a special favor, we're partners after all. Besides, I'm not doing your work, I'm helping you with Scully's."

Mulder raised a speculative eyebrow as he studied his lover. Then he smiled softly. "Well, since you put it that way, thanks." He reached down and grasped Alex's hand in his as the lift slowed upon reaching the FBI section. "One of these days we're going to have to get around to planning our honeymoon again."

Krycek squeezed his hand. "Hmm, we don't need to plan, Fox. Just tell me where and when you want to go." The doors to the lift opened and Alex stood, pulling Fox to his feet.

Mulder smiled wistfully. "Really? Well, the NBA is finally starting up again. I wouldn't mind going to see a Knicks game," he said, following Alex down the hallway to the X-Files offices. "It's been almost four years since I've been to a game."

Krycek tried to keep the disappointment from showing on his face. He smiled nervously, as his heart beat frantically. "If that is what you want, then we'll go to the Knicks first home game." Of all the places to choose, he didn't expect Fox to choose a crowded basketball auditorium. Krycek knew he couldn't take Fox by himself and that he'd have to arrange for a full security team to accompany them. God, talk about romantic.

They entered their office and Mulder walked over to his desk, he groaned loudly at his full in basket. He plopped down behind his desk and started going through the pile. Most were reports that only required his signature, there were a couple new 302 requests submitted by his agents. He picked up an envelope from the Justice Department. The U.S. legal system was the only element of the former U.S. government that Walter had kept relatively intact. Mulder scanned the contents of the document and his temper rose. "Dammit!"

"What's wrong, Fox?" Krycek asked, looking up from a field report he was reviewing.

"All the evidence and documents from Beiran Havock's serial murder case that I worked on in 1988 have vanished, even the documents from his trial and conviction are missing. In addition, all of the original witnesses are dead and they need me to testify at his re-sentencing hearing in September or else he may walk."

Krycek's face darkened, and his eyes smoldered like green embers. "He's not going to walk. That man raped and tortured me for Christ's sake!"

Mulder sighed and walked over to his lover. "Alex, I won't let him get off. My testimony should be enough to put him away for life." His finger's feathered soothingly through Alex's sable locks.

Alex turned in his chair and wrapped his arms around Fox's waist and buried his face in his lover's shirt. Havock still frightened him; he'd never been more helpless than when he was in that man's sadistic hands. "If he gets off, I'll hunt him down and kill him myself," Krycek said.

"He's not getting off," Mulder promised. "C'mon, let's get this paperwork done, so we won't break *your* promise to Walter."

***

New York City
Saturday, July 29
5:00 p.m.

Mulder held the square piece of note card under his nose and sniffed it. It had an after-shave sample splashed on it. Skinner stood watching him intently. They had been sniffing fragrances for over an hour now. The ones that didn't make Mulder nauseous, Skinner didn't like the smell of.

"I like this one," Mulder said, handing the note card over to Skinner to sniff.

"Hmm, not bad. What is it?"

The salesman perked up. "Your Majesty, it's call Grey Flannel, it's a fresh and green fragrance."

"Okay, we'll take it."

"Your Majesty, would you like the deodorant and talc in addition to the after-shave?"

"Yes, might as well," Skinner said off handily, glancing at his watch. "What do you want for dinner, Fox?"

"Pizza with anchovies."

"Fox, we can get pizza back home, wouldn't you rather have something we don't have available on the island?"

"We don't have authentic *New York City* style pizza on the island."

"Okay, whatever."

"Your Majesty, I know a place that serves the best pizza in the city," General Kline offered. He had taken personal charge of the King's security team. The thirty-member team was spread out in a circle around Mulder and Skinner, keeping the throngs of curious people at bay.

"Lead the way, Clay," Skinner said as Mulder took the bag from the salesman. Skinner put his hand protectively on the small of Mulder's back as they headed out of the store.

Fifty-five minutes later, Mulder closed his eyes as he savored the pizza, breathing in the aroma of garlic, basil, and tomato sauce. For once his sinuses weren't blocked. He opened his eyes slowly and licked the sauce from his full lips then grinned over at Walter who was watching him with undisguised lust. He turned to General Kline who was also watching him. "Clay, you were right this place has the best pizza I've ever tasted."

"I grew up in this neighborhood, Prince Fox. This pizzeria has been here since the fifties," the General said.

General Kline's cell-phone rang. "Excuse me, Gentlemen." He pulled it out of his pocket and rose from the table and crossed the room to answer it.

Mulder took another bite of pizza, the cheese stretched in thin strands breaking and sticking to his chin, he wiped it off with a napkin as he slowly chewed, gazing into Walter's eyes. He swallowed, and took a sip of Pepsi. "I'm looking forward to tonight...just you and me."

"Me too, Fox. Don't count on getting too much sleep," Skinner growled lustfully, his leg brushing against Fox's under the table.

"Your Majesty, we have a situation and need to get back to the island," General Kline said, rushing back to the table.

"What's wrong, Clay?"

"The Seraphim have attacked Egypt, Somalia, Kuwait, and Nepal, and made off with their immortals."

"Damn!" Skinner jumped to his feet and protectively grabbed a hold of Mulder's hand as the younger man rose in stunned silence from his chair. Skinner scanned the area for any immediate threat.

"I have our helicopters waiting for us at the airport," the General said, ushering them out of the restaurant where they were ringed by the sorcerer security team. Kline had filled the men in telepathically. All thirty were more than willing to die to protect Mulder if need be.

Mulder's hand felt sweaty inside of Walter's big paw as his lover held onto him tightly, as if Walter were afraid by letting go he would vanish. "Walter, those four countries didn't have the best security. I'm sure that is why the Seraphim targeted them," he said, climbing into the back of the limousine, Skinner clambered in beside him, still holding on tightly to his hand.

Skinner pulled Mulder firmly against his body. "It doesn't matter why they were taken, Fox. It only proves that the Seraphim can easily access our planet, we need to find a means to stop them. I won't risk losing you, not now, not ever. I'm sorry, Fox, but until we can find away to prevent them from coming to Earth through their portal your freedom and that of the other immortals will have to be limited."

"Walter, please..."

"No. I won't argue with you over this, Fox."

General Kline interrupted. "The King is right, Prince Fox. If they take you, we have no means of getting you back. Your freedom is only temporarily limited, but it will be forever lost if the Seraphim got their hands on you."

"Okay, fine," Mulder sighed as he looked out the window of the limo as it quickly sped toward the airport.

***

End of chapter 1 - Outside Menace

---

Life from the Ashes Book 4 - Yours, Mine, & Ours

by Jo B.
purplefox@usfamily.net

Rating: NC-17
Keywords: M/Sk/K SLASH
Disclaimer: The X-Files characters Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Alex Krycek, Walter Skinner, Jeffrey Spender, CSM, the Lone Gunmen, Kimberly Cook, Senator Matheson, Bill Scully, the morph etc. are the property Chris Carter, 1013 productions and Fox Broadcasting. All other characters in the series are mine.
Summary: This is an Alternative Universe Story. It takes place after an alien virus has killed off most of the world's females and caused mutations in forty-five percent of the remaining males.
Authors Notes: This is the fourth book in my AU series "Life from the Ashes - Yours, Mine, and Ours." You might want to read the prequel and the first three books of the series to understand this one.
I would like to thank my beta-readers Nicole, Laurie, Tarlan, Dawn, Cerulean Blue, Kiyoko, Michael, Bee Lan, and Susan for all their hard work and patience in editing this story and plot suggestions.
Feedback is always welcome. Any constructive suggestions are appreciated.
WARNING! This story contains explicit Sex/Romance between two or more men. Turn back now, if the subject matter offends you.
Okay to Archive: please ask first.

---

***

Chapter 2
Pregnancy Blues

Crystal City
Sunday, July 30
1:30 a.m.

Mulder leaned against the railing on the veranda staring off into the darkness. He was standing barefoot and dressed only in cotton pajama bottoms. His flesh was covered in goosebumps as a cool wind had blown in off the ocean, dropping the temperature into the low sixties. The day had started out so promising, with Walter and him enjoying the sights of New York City. He had been surprised by how clean the city was, but Walter had informed him that it was mostly due to the mayor who controlled the police and the sanitation departments with an iron fist. Vagrants and bums were forbidden within the city limits and criminals were dealt with severely.

He gazed up at the crescent moon trying to find some tranquility to vanquish the fear deep inside, but his guts twisted in dread over the thought of what was happening to his fellow immortals at the hands of the Seraphim. He only met Khalid once, but he was a good friend of Ian's who had been Khalid's lover for a short time. Mulder felt sadness for the blond, Australian immortal who had lost so much in his life. But then, they had all lost so much because of the Seraphim. Nothing would ever be normal until they could destroy those creatures. Mulder's thoughts were interrupted as Alex wrapped a blanket around his bare shoulders, then got under it with him and held him close.

"Fox, we'll be okay. Come back to bed," he whispered, kissing Mulder's cheek reassuringly.

"Alex, I didn't tell you or Walter about everything that happened to me when I was abducted by that Seraphim," Mulder said. His shivering quieted as he leaned into Alex's warm embrace.

"You don't have to talk about it, Fox, not if it's too painful." Krycek circled his arm securely around Mulder's waist.

"I need to talk about it." Mulder gazed up at the clear, starlit sky and spoke softly. "I was lost, Alex. I was no longer my own person but a part of him. The short time I was in his arms made me forget all about my life with you and Walter. No one else existed to me except Xowolfe. Maybe this is how it feels to be genetically bonded to someone, I don't know. I was mortified when my memories started to return...I could have been totally happy with Xowolfe and never have known that I had another life...another purpose."

"Do you think that is what will happen to the other immortals? That they will forget about Earth and fall totally under the spell of the Seraphim?"

"Maybe, in a way I hope so, but I have no doubt that their memories will eventually resurface and they'll have to face what's become of them, and what they've lost," Mulder said sadly. All of the immortals with the exception of Khalid had infant daughters who were left behind sleeping in their cribs when the Seraphim abducted their fathers.

Alex held Fox closer, breathing in his sweet scent; it was different than before he was pregnant, but nevertheless, intoxicating. "We'll have to be more careful in the future, Fox. The Seraphim had prior knowledge about which immortals were the most vulnerable. That means that someone or something is on our planet watching us."

"I've already deduced as much, and with this portal device they can materialize within a few feet of any immortal and snatch him before anyone is the wiser." He shuddered at the thought and Alex's arms tightened.

Alex shook his head. "No. That's not true. I have no doubt that Walter would have been able to feel the vibrations of the portal before it could fully materialize and destroy it. The Seraphim's fear of sorcerers seems to keep them from going after the immortals suitably protected. Pharaoh Menes probably didn't know what was happening until it was too late and Khalid was gone."

"What about you, Alex? Would you have been able to destroy that portal?"

"I don't think so, Fox. C'mon, let's go back inside to bed, it's freezing out here."

Mulder allowed Alex to guide him indoors and over to the bed. He frowned at it being empty. Walter would probably be up for the rest of the night dealing with this latest Seraphim crisis. "It never ends, does it?"

Alex closed the French doors to the veranda. "One of these days we'll catch a break."

"I wish I could believe that, Alex." They crawled under the covers and into each other arms. Mulder shifted, trying to find a comfortable position. If he was this uncomfortable at only three months pregnant, he couldn't imagine how he'd be at five or six months. He rolled on his back, but that didn't help. He had a stiffness in his lower back.

Krycek sighed, as Mulder moved again, he turned on side and pulled Mulder's body back against him, until they were lying spooned with Mulder's back against his chest. "Better?"

"Yeah...much better...sorry."

Krycek kissed that back of his head. "Don't be."

Mulder felt secure in Alex's arms, he lay there listening to his lover's breathing as it evened out signaling the moment Alex passed into sleep. If he ever lost either of his lovers, he'd be devastated, but he was even more fearful of the possibility of losing all of the memories he had of their time together.

***

Seraphim's Home Planet

Khalid huddled fearfully with his immortal brothers as they looked upon the winged beings surrounding them. They stood in the center of a raised, circular, platform that was lit from below and above. The light lit up every detail on their naked bodies. An immortal stepped around the Seraphim and stepped up onto the platform, he was carrying a winged infant in his arms.

"Welcome to Empyrean. I am Xoric. You have nothing to fear," the young Brazilian said.

"What do they want from us?" Khalid asked in a hushed voice. He was surprised that he could understand the strange language the other immortal was speaking, and equally surprised that he could speak it.

"They need our help in reviving their dying race -- to have their children. We are the chosen ones, you should feel honored," Xoric said.

"We want to be returned to Earth! We don't want to be here!" Khalid shouted.

Xoric frowned. Earth? It felt like someone had just walked across his grave. He looked questioningly over at his mate.

Xochipilli drifted onto the platform and wrapped his arms around Xoric's body from behind. "Our baby is hungry. Go feed him, beloved." Xochipilli had finally purged Xoric of all memories from his former life and he did not want to risk these immortals bringing those memories back to the surface. Xoric was happy and content with his life now, and Xochipilli did not want the nightmares or the sudden tears to return to his mate.

King Xowolfe stepped down from his throne as Xoric left the throne room. The fifty Seraphim looked at him for his decision. The King intuitively matched up the Seraphim with their immortal bond mates. Two of the immortals were genetically bonded to one Seraph each. One immortal was bonded to two Seraphim, and Khalid was genetically bonded to three Seraphim.

"This one is still going through the change," the King said, touching Khalid's face. "It will be four month's before his womb is ready. However, you can still take pleasure from his body. Enjoy, my brothers."

Khalid's knees trembled and he nearly fainted as he was led out of the room by three of the Seraphim who were petting and touching him. Long fingers stroked down his naked flesh, playfully touching his sex. When his steps faltered, the largest of the Seraphim scooped him up and carried him like a small child.

The remaining Seraphim grumbled as seven of their brothers left with the immortals. "My King, when will we get the rest of our property back from the Earthlings?"

The King sighed. "As soon as our forces are strong enough we will claim the rest of the immortals."

Down the corridor in a distant room, Xochipilli stood watching his immortal lover nurse their child. Xoric had a puzzled look on his face that Xochipilli wanted to kiss away. "My love, what is puzzling you?" he asked, sinking gracefully to his knees in front of his lover and child.

Xoric looked at the winged being with magenta hair and wings. He saw flashes of his home where colorful parrots fluttered around, and his mother and father sat with him on a sunny veranda discussing the job he had been offered since graduating college. Suddenly the images dissolved and he was standing at the precipice between two worlds. "I do not know...who am I, Xochipilli?"

"You are my mate, my lover," the Seraph said gently.

"No. Before that..." He shook his head to clear his thoughts and shifted his son to his other nipple. "This isn't my home. I want to go home...I want to see my parents again."

"Your parents are dead...don't you remember?"

"No. I'd remember if they were dead...I think." Another image came to him of his mother falling to the ground...of him kneeling over her body as blood seeped out of every orifice, even her pores bled. He closed his eyes trying to block the images out.

Xochipilli reached out and brushed the tears off his lover's cheeks with his thumbs. "Forget, my love, our son and I are your family now. You will never feel pain as long as you are here with us." The Seraph took the baby from Xoric and carried him over to the cradle and laid him gently inside. Then he came back over to his lover. "I will help you forget, Xoric."

Xoric found himself being pulled to his feet. The gold, jewel-encrusted fabric he wore fastened around his waist, that draped down to the floor covering his groin and ass was removed. The delicate woven collar that formed a wide circle across his collarbones and over his shoulder was also removed and allowed to drop carelessly to the floor in a twisted heap. Last, the jeweled headpiece he had on was removed and his braided hair freed.

Xochipilli's long fingers caressed the side of Xoric's tanned face. "So beautiful. You are the most exquisite creature. Too beautiful for such sadness...forget them. Think of only your happiness with me." The Seraph leaned down and kissed Xoric's pink lips, probing between them with his tongue.

Xoric was feeling light-headed as the kiss continued and deepened. Then his lover pulled back and slowly disrobed. Xoric's hand reached out lustfully for Xochipilli's fat cock and stroked up and down its length feeling the soft bristles covering the organ harden with arousal at his touch. They moved against his palm, tickling and coating it with a thin film of oil as the organ produced its own lubricant. Desire. Need. Pushed all other thoughts from the Brazilian immortal's mind as the Seraph lowered him to the bed. Xoric spread his thighs wantonly arching up as Xochipilli entered him with a smooth, slick thrust. He wrapped his legs around Xochipilli's hips skewing himself deeper on the hard cock. He mind was spinning as the bristles moved against the inner walls of his rectum brushing against his prostate, shooting electrical waves of pleasure from his toes up to his scalp.

Xochipilli thrust in and out of the tight heat of his lover, moving faster and harder as he tried to drive all thoughts from Xoric's mind. Xoric was making cooing noises of pleasure as Xochipilli slammed into him again and again. The Seraph reached between their bodies and started pumping his lover's cock, until a wet warmth erupted between their two bodies.

Xoric screamed as he came, his body trembling as he spilled his seed. He collapsed back against the mattress as Xochipilli continued to fuck him. His legs were quivering, but he kept them wrapped around Xochipilli's hips. Xoric stared into his lover's amber lust-filled eyes as his body was awakened once again by the relentless pounding it was taking.

Twenty-minutes later they were both covered in sweat and coming as Xochipilli drove his cock as deep as it would go, filling his lover with his hot passion. Xoric's legs fell to the bed as his lover pulled out of him. Xochipilli watched as Xoric's eyes closed and he drifted into a sated sleep. The Seraph stood and arranged Xoric's body in a more comfortable position on the bed, covering him, he leaned down and kissed those pink lips softly. "Forget, my love," he whispered against them.

***

Crystal City
Sunday, July 30
4:30 a.m.

Duffy felt his cock surrounded by a tight sheath. It was a wonderful sensation, one he hadn't experienced in years. He fought to stay in the deep cocoon of slumber, he did not want to wake up and end this dream too soon, but Ari's voice was calling to him.

Ari straddled Duffy's hips looking down into his lover's stunned eyes as awareness finally took hold. Ari's ass was on fire as the large organ stretched and filled him far too tightly, but he'd be damned if he'd allow his lover to see his discomfort. Instead, he chose to endure, knowing that it would only get better with time. "If I had waited for you to act, Jason, I'd have been a virgin for the rest of my life," Ari said smugly.

"God, Ari, are you nuts? My size could seriously hurt you!"

"God, Jason, are you an idiot? I'm an immortal!" Ari leaned back as the initial painful burn became a gentle throbbing; his hand was wrapped around the base of Duffy's cock to prevent it from going too deep too soon. He closed his eyes getting his temper under control. "Jason, any damage done will be healed within twenty-four hours. Don't you understand that I love you? I want you to make love to me."

Duffy clenched the sheets with his fingers, he was so afraid of losing control and hurting his lover. "God." Being sheathed inside such an exquisite hot space was going to unravel him. "Ari, I make love to you every day," he growled through clenched teeth.

"Jason, I want more than a simple finger fucking and oral sex."

"Ari, if you haven't noticed, my fingers are larger than most men's dicks!"

"I want more...I want this," he said, removing his hand he sunk down on the final five inches of Duffy's massive cock. Ari swallowed and bit down on his bottom lip to keep from crying out in pain.

"Jesus, Ari, I'm hurting you," Duffy said, reaching for his lover to pull him off his cock.

"I'll kick your ass if you touch me," Ari gasped, swatting at his hand. "I just need a moment."

Duffy dropped his hand and held his breath as he watched his beautiful lover's face contort in pain. "Ari, come-on...please, I can't stand to see you in pain."

Ari was determined to handle his lover's size. He had spent part of the night preparing and lubing his body. He took a deep breath and willed his body to relax, after long minutes the sharp, painful burn started to vanish and a wonderful sensation of fullness replaced it. He tentatively pulled a few inches off then sank back down. Ari smiled with relief when there wasn't as much pain and his stomach fluttered with excitement. He started moving slowly up and down on Duffy's cock, watching as his lover's eyes glazed over in pleasure. The burn had dulled and all that he felt was the wonderful sensation of being opened and filled. The tremendous pressure against his prostate was causing an electric prickling sensation to race up his spine; his straining erection was a lovely shade of purple against his belly and his balls felt bloated and heavy.

Duffy's hips pushed up involuntarily seeking more of that delicious heat surrounding his cock. He wanted to go deeper. He growled, gripping his lover's hips and moved Ari up and down on his cock faster.

Ari reached back and grabbed Duffy's balls and squeezed.

Duffy let go and howled out in pain.

"Jason, I'm in control you just lay back and enjoy."

"Bastard."

Ari smirked and continued to ride the giant's cock. "You know me too well, MacDuff."

Duffy had it with Ari's attitude, he'd learned that sometimes Ari needed to be shown that this was an equal relationship of give and take...and he was going to do a little taking of his own now. He sat up and flipped them so Ari was on his back with his legs wrapped around Duffy's hips, then grabbing the young man's hands he held them pinned above Ari's head as he started to plow in and out of that tight space.

"Asshole!" Ari gasped.

"No, Ari, I think that would be you," Duffy quipped and slammed harder and faster into Ari's tight hole.

Ari started making cooing sounds of pleasure and suddenly his cock started spurting milky come over his belly and chest, and he gasped, "God, Jason."

Duffy grinned down at him, as he continued to thrust into Ari's body. Ten minutes later, he was crying out and coming into that tight heat.

Ari moaned again, as he was filled with his lover's essence, it pushed him over the abyss for a second time and he came again screaming. He whimpered as Duffy withdrew leaving him empty. The giant pulled him into his arms and kissed Ari until he was light-headed.

"Okay, Ari, I will stop treating you as if you're made of glass, but you have to let up on the bully routine."

"Jason, you don't ask for much do you? Okay, I'll try not to be so bossy," he promised. "I love you, even though you are the most infuriating man I've ever met!"

***

Crystal City
Monday, July 31
9:30 a.m.

Skinner stood beside Krycek looking through the window of observation room into the airtight operating room. Their lover was on the operating table, his body draped with sheets; only his head and belly were exposed. Skinner watched the gentle rise and fall of Fox's chest, as he lay anesthetized. He glanced over at the heart monitor. The surgeons and nurses were all dressed in biohazard suits, against the off chance that the alien fetus would contain some unknown virus.

Doctor Bradford inserted a spreader bar through Mulder's navel. Next, he inserted a small fiber-optic video camera. On a video monitor positioned at the foot of the operating table, Skinner watched the progress of the camera; he found it difficult to discern objects within the pink gelatin inside the womb. The camera stopped in front of a large dark object. The doctor held out his hand and another tube was passed to him this one was connected to a pump.

They had discussed this procedure ahead of time and it was decided to try to extract the alien fetus with a vacuum through Mulder's navel. Skinner's eyes kept flicking back and forth between the doctor feeding the vacuum tube through the spreader into his lover's body and the camera showing the pouch. The pouch was about the size of an orange. On the monitor, the tubular shape of the vacuum appeared, it was about one inch in diameter. Skinner held his breath as the tube made contact with the pouch -- then all hell broke loose. The video monitor exploded splattering the room with glass. Mulder's body arched up off the table and he let out an unearthly wail as the bulbs in the lights surrounding the operating table started popping. Skinner and Krycek jumped as the overhead light exploded showering them with glass, and they had no time to think or react as the observation window blew out.

Several moments later, Skinner helped a bloody and battered Krycek to his feet. He was in no better shape than the younger man. The operating room was dead quiet; not even the beeping of the heart monitor could be heard -- it sat smoking, the glass front broken. They hurried past the still forms of the operating room staff and over to the table where Mulder lay unmoving. Krycek stepped on the mangled shape of the spreader bar; it had been melted along with the camera and vacuum tube into an unrecognizable blob. How it got from Fox's navel and onto the floor, he had no idea.

Krycek touched Mulder's pale cheek as Skinner checked for a pulse.

"What the hell just happened?" Krycek asked.

Skinner closed his eyes and issued a silent pray of thanks when he found a strong pulse. "You want me to guess? Because otherwise I have no idea." He was relieved to note that Fox had been uncut by the flying glass and exploding equipment.

The staff and Doctor Bradford started to stir around them. Groaning, Doctor Pendrell sat up, the hood on the biohazard suit was missing the facemask and there were bright red bloodstains on the white fabric of the suit. He climbed shakily to his feet and went to check his patient first, before offering assistance to the other staff members who were coming around.

"What happened, Kyle?" Krycek asked, holding onto Mulder's cold hand.

Pendrell shook his head then removed the useless hood. "I don't know. If I had to guess I'd say that immortals have a built in defensive mechanism that prevents harm from coming to their unborn child." He looked around at the destroyed operating room. "A really good defensive mechanism."

"It seems that's all we've been doing is guessing!" Skinner growled. "This debacle might have cost us the lives of the our unborn babies!" His face paled suddenly, what if it already had killed them? "Can you do an ultrasound to make sure the fetuses are still all right?"

"I was going to suggest that, but we need to get Prince Fox moved out of this room first." He plucked a small, shiver of glass out of his side. "And we need to treat our injuries."

"Doctor, Alex and I will move Fox to the exam room down the hall, while you take care of your injuries," Skinner said, removing the useless sensors pasted to Mulder's chest.

"You and Alex need to be treated for your wounds, too," Pendrell said.

Krycek interrupted, "Later. After we're certain Fox and our babies are okay. I'll take care of healing Walter." He pulled off the sheet still draping his lover's naked body and stood back as Walter scooped Fox up into his strong arms, Walter used his powers to help him handle Fox's weight as he carried him out of the operating room. Krycek followed them to the examination room; he spread a clean white cloth on the leather exam table. Then he helped Walter arrange their lover into a comfortable position on the table.

***

Mulder opened his eyes as he felt a cold gel being spread on his belly. He looked at his redheaded doctor questioningly. What was he doing here? The last thing he remembered was counting backwards in the operating room. Alex was holding his hand. "Alex, what's going on?" he whispered, his voice too dry to talk any louder. Walter stepped into his field of vision, looking down at him with obvious concern. Mulder's eyes widened when he saw the cuts and blood on his lover's body and clothes. He looked quickly up at Alex who also had cuts, but his wounds were already healing.

Krycek leaned in close to his ear to explain. "Fox, there was a problem during the procedure. When the vacuum made contact with the fetal pouch all the glass and equipment in the operating room suddenly exploded. The doctors aren't exactly sure what caused it, other than it appears that your body has some sort of built in defense protecting the fetuses. Kyle is checking to make sure that our babies are still okay."

"Damn. The transducer just short-circuited. I'll need to bring in another one," Pendrell said.

"It's not necessary. The babies are fine...all of them," Mulder said quietly.

"Fox, how can you be sure?" Skinner asked, taking his other hand.

"I just know. I want to go home now, Walter." Mulder was all at once feeling sad and agitated; he had tried to kill their baby. Why had he done that?

"Fox, we need to be sure."

"The equipment isn't going to work...and I don't want him touching me," Mulder said, sitting up he turned sideways to climb off on the table.

"Fox."

"Walter, they're okay. I never should have done such a thing, it was wrong." He looked around for his clothes; not finding them, he pulled the sheet off the table and wrapped it around his body like a toga then headed for the door. His hand was shaking as he reached for the doorknob.

Krycek grabbed his arm to stop him from leaving. "You can't walk around the palace like that, Fox. You'll cause all sorts of accidents," he quipped lightly.

Skinner teleported Mulder's clothing into the exam room. "Here, Fox, get dressed then we'll go home." He was willing to believe that Fox knew the babies were all right.

Mulder had a lost expression on his face as he took the clothes and started to get dressed. "Walter, why did I want to kill our baby?"

"Fox, don't you remember? We were worried that the alien fetus would harm our babies," Skinner said softly, kneeing next to the chair where Fox was sitting to tie his shoes.

"Oh."

"Fox, are you going to be all right?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"You're acting like you don't have any memory of..."

"Walter, I just tried to have our baby murdered."

"Fox, it was the alien fetus, you tried to save our babies' lives." Skinner sighed as he helped Mulder to his feet, his lover looked so confused and sad.

Mulder felt like he was walking in a tunnel as they made their way out of the hospital wing. Walter's and Alex's voices sounded distant. He reached down and rested his hand on his abdomen and felt a warmth wash through him. Everything was going to be all right.

Skinner exchanged worried glances with Krycek over the soft smile suddenly on Fox's lips. They rode the lift back to their portion of the palace and the elevator up to their floor.

"Fox, why don't you go lie down and I'll bring you a cup of tea?" Skinner suggested.

Mulder turned to him and touched his bloodstained cheek. "I think you and Alex need to lie down more than I do. Alex, why don't you take Walter to the bedroom and heal his cuts, I'll go to the kitchen and fix us a pot of tea." Mulder didn't wait for an answer; he was already heading in the direction of their kitchen.

Krycek grabbed Skinner's arm, as he was about to follow Mulder. "Let him go, Walter, he seems to be doing better. If you must, keep an eye on him telepathically, but give him a little space right now."

"How can he be doing better? He feels guilty, Alex, you heard him -- he thinks that he tried to kill our babies. Fox didn't even remember that it was the alien fetus that the doctors were trying to abort, not ours." Skinner stepped into the bedroom and shrugged off the bloody shirt and slacks, then headed up the steps to the bathroom.

"He's only confused, Walter. He'll get over it in time." Krycek touched Walter's face and chest, sending out healing impulses and the cuts and bruises started to disappear. He yawned tiredly when he finished. "Fox, is right I could use a nap," he said, stepping into the shower with Walter to wash the bloodstains away.

"I have no intention of napping, I'm going to stay up and keep an eye on Fox just in case."

***

Mulder stepped into the kitchen. He smiled at Yori and Lev who was fixing lunch for their five-year-old adopted son. Their other six sons were in school.

"Mulder, what are you doing here? Where are Walter and Alex?" Lev asked.

"I'm fixing a pot of tea for Walter and Alex. They're in the bedroom," Mulder said, filling a teakettle with water and placing it on the stove.

Yori placed an arm on Lev's arm to silence his lover from asking any more questions. "Mulder, let me help you," Yori said, getting a tray out of the pantry. He started filling it with teacups and biscuits. "How are you feeling?" he asked carefully.

"I'm fine...never better," Mulder replied, dropping four teabags into a china teapot, he leaned back against the counter and waited for the water in the kettle to boil.

"You look good, how did your visit to the hospital go?"

Mulder's lip trembled and he looked away.

Yori stepped over to him and pulled Mulder into his arms. Mulder broke down crying, all of his pent-up emotions breaking free.

"Yori, I don't know how I could have done something like that...I almost killed Walter's baby."

"Ssh, it's going to be all right," Yori soothed. "I thought you were trying to abort the alien fetus."

Mulder wrapped his arms around Yori's broad body. The Russian was built like a large bear. Mulder had missed his friend; he'd always found Yori's presence comforting. Mulder's sobs quieted and he whispered, "Don't ask me how I know but that wasn't the alien baby it was Walter's. Yori, promise me you won't tell him, I don't want Walter to find out how close we came to almost losing our baby. He doesn't need that kind of anxiety in his life right now."

Yori rubbed his back. "Okay, Mulder, but I still don't understand how the doctors could have made such a mistake."

Mulder didn't understand either. It was beyond him why Walter's baby would be so much bigger than the other two. "Thanks, Yori. I better take the tea into them. I wouldn't want them to come searching for me." He wiped at his eyes as he pulled away from Yori, and went to turn off the stove. He then filled the teapot with the hot water from the kettle. Mulder picked up the tray and headed for the door.

"Don't forget the honey," Lev said as he set the jar down on the tray. "You know Walter and Alex both like honey in their tea."

Mulder smiled at the skinny Russian. "Thanks, Lev. I can't believe I forgot it." He chuckled. "Alex loves honey on just about everything."

Mulder walked through the corridors and finally arrived back at his and his lover's bedroom. Walter and Alex were sitting on the bed wearing their robes talking quietly; they both looked up at him as he entered.

Walter stood and took the tray while giving Mulder an appraising look. "You've been crying," he said, setting the tray on the small breakfast table.

"I've just gone through a traumatic experience. So, excuse me if I shed a few tears!" Mulder snapped, pouring the tea into the three cups.

"That's not what I meant, Fox. You didn't seem to know what happened to you earlier, you weren't acting rationally. All that I want to know is why were you crying? Do you remember what happened to you?" Skinner asked.

Mulder drizzled a little honey into two of the teacups and added a little milk; then he handed one cup to Walter and carried the other one over to Alex who was sitting cross-legged on the bed, looking totally exhausted. "I remember everything that happened, Walter. We were attempting to abort the alien fetus, it failed and now we are sharing a cup of tea together, licking our wounds and counting our blessings."

Skinner sighed. "Sorry, Fox, I was concerned that you had..."

"Totally lost it," Krycek finished. He sipped the tea and wished for just a splash of vodka in it.

"I was a little disoriented earlier. Sorry, I didn't mean to make either of you worry about me," Mulder replied.

"That's okay, Fox. We're just glad that you're doing better now. Come, sit with me by the fire," Skinner said as he sat on a loveseat in front of the fireplace and flames magically sprung to life inside the hearth.

Mulder sat next to him and they sipped their tea in silence while staring reflectively into the flames. Alex watched them for a few moments then set his teacup on the floor and crawled under the blankets, falling to sleep almost instantly.

"Slava is coming next week with several of the other world leaders. We need to figure out how to locate the portal, if we can capture it, there might be a chance of getting our immortals back from the Seraphim," Skinner said.

"If we capture it, we can take the battle to them," Mulder said. "We'll never be free until we destroy every last Seraphim."

"You'd be willing to destroy an entire race?" Skinner asked.

"They've destroyed countless races, it's about time someone gives them a taste of their own medicine."

"I agree, Fox. If we capture the portal we will use it to destroy them."

Mulder leaned back against Skinner's body, more relaxed than he had been all day. It felt good to have some sort of plan against their enemies. If only they could capture the portal...then there was only that little problem about it being programmed on the Seraphim's side not to allow sorcerers to pass through. They'd have to deal with that if, and when they got their hands on it.

***

Crystal City
Saturday, August 5
11:30 a.m.

Mulder flipped in the water and started swimming another lap across the pool. He had the lap pool all to himself; his friends were over in the diving and wading pools. He reached the other end and looked up to find Alex and Ari staring down at him. Ari had his daughter Kat strapped into a carrier on his chest.

"Fox, Ari and I are going to lunch, would you care to join us?"

"Sure," Mulder said, climbing up the ladder and out of the pool, Alex handed him a towel while holding onto Mulder's shorts and T-shirt. Mulder was looking forward to lunch, his stomach had finally settled down and he was no longer getting morning sickness. So, he was trying to make up for lost time by eating three square meals a day. Mulder finished towel drying his hair, and pulled the shorts on over his swimsuit, then stepped into his sandals.

"We thought we'd try out the new bistro, they're suppose to have some really good soup and sandwich combos," Ari said.

Mulder nodded in agreement. He was glad because he didn't feel like going up to his room to change, which he would have had to do if they ate in the main dining hall. Besides, Slava was at the palace and would probably be eating in the main dining hall. "So, you two seem to be getting along better," Mulder commented as he followed them out of the swimming area toward the vertical lift.

"We've reached an agreement, Fox," Krycek said, allowing Mulder to step onto the lift first then took the seat next to him.

"What sort of an agreement?"

"I have to keep my hooks off you and King Walter," Ari said, shrugging his shoulders. It was an easy promise to make, since he never had his hooks in the two men to begin with. Maybe if he wasn't in love with Duffy he'd be interested in exploring a relationship with them.

"Alex!" Mulder gaped at his lover.

"I wasn't taking chances, Fox."

"You know that I only love you and Walter. I can't see why you would make Ari promise such a thing?"

"I'd prefer that you or Walter didn't have his children."

"And I'd prefer that you didn't have Slava's children," Mulder snapped.

"No problem, Fox. I don't intend to get pregnant."

"Alex, you might not have much choice. Besides which, Slava already told me that you promised to have his baby first."

"Oh, come on, Fox, it was during the heat of sex! I can't be held to such a promise."

"Oh brother!" Ari rolled his eyes. "Alex, you're upset about Mulder and me being friends while you're cheating on him with the man who raped him?"

"It's really none of your business, Ari."

"Well, I'm entitled to an opinion, and I think it stinks."

Mulder rested his hand against Alex's chest, to keep him in his seat. "Ari, I gave Alex my permission for him to see Slava. So, please drop it."

"Fine, he's your husband...I'm just surprised you're okay with it." Ari's voice softened as Kat started whimpering.

The lift stopped at the south end of the palace and they climbed out and walked silently down the corridor to the bistro. The place was packed with teenage boys and palace workers.

"We can get it to go, and eat out in the gardens," Ari suggested as their search for a table proved futile.

"Okay," Mulder said. He looked up at the chalkboard that had the soup and sandwich of the day written on it, then his attention shifted to the main board and his eyes lit up as he stepped up to place his order. "I'll have the French dip, and a bowl of the French onion soup, oh and an extra pickle."

"What would you like to drink?" the manager asked eager to serve the pregnant immortal.

"Ice tea, oh and add some fries to the order," Mulder said. "This is to go."

"Prince Fox, if you would like we can clear a table for you, Prince Alex and Mr. Summers." It wasn't everyday that he had three of the palace's immortals in his establishment.

"No, we'd prefer not to have special treatment," Mulder said.

Randy Scully came walking up to them. "We're just leaving, you guys can have our table," he said.

Mulder hadn't even noticed Charlie Scully's son in the crowded restaurant. "Where are you sitting?"

"We're in the corner behind the plant." He pointed.

"Alex, I'm going to hold the table for us. Would you bring my food when it is up?" Mulder said over his shoulder as he followed Randy to the table.

"Sure, Fox." Alex was at the counter ordering the special, tomato basil soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Ari was staring up at the board trying to make up his mind.

Mulder smiled warmly at the four boys at the table: Scully's adopted son Scott, and three of Lev's and Yori's adopted sons. Scott stood and offered Mulder his chair.

"Are you boys enjoying your Saturday?" Mulder asked.

"Yep, we're going to head down to the beach later and go crabbing," Chris said.

Mulder licked his lips hungrily. "So does that mean Lev will be making crab legs for dinner tonight?"

"If we catch enough. But we promise to save the biggest crab for you, Mulder," Calvin replied, standing as Alex and Ari approached the table. "We'll be seeing you and Alex tonight."

"Bye, Guys," Mulder said.

Alex set the overloaded tray on the table, and Mulder grabbed the pickles straight away.

"You know, Fox, that is really stereotypical and people are staring," Alex said.

"I don't care, besides men stare at us regardless. I have a craving for something vinegary and salty," he said pulling the bowl of French onion soup in front of him. His spoon broke through the layer of melted cheese and scooped up a broth-soaked chunk of bread and a few onions, he literally purred contentedly as he savored it.

Alex watched as several of the men closest to them shifted in their chairs and spread their thighs apart as they watched Fox's face. "Fox, would you try to enjoy your soup a little less graphically?"

"Why? It's not as if I'm sending out pheromones...not in my present condition anyway...which is the only benefit of my present condition, I might add," Mulder said, picking up his sandwich and dipping it into the au jus sauce.

Krycek snorted. "You are still drop dead gorgeous if you haven't noticed, and a lot of men find your present condition unbelievably hot."

Mulder took a moment from his sandwich to glance around the crowded restaurant; he noted that all eyes were on their table. "Alex, what about you and Ari? Those men don't necessarily have to be looking at me...if you *haven't* noticed you both are far more beautiful than I."

Ari and Alex snorted. Ari was holding his daughter cradled in one arm as he ate a messy Rueben sandwich with the other hand, he leaned over the tray as the juices from sauerkraut dripped off the sandwich. "Mulder, you're so blind," he mumbled around a full mouth.

MacIver had entered the restaurant moments before and had been listening in to their conversation from the counter. He walked up to their table and set his tray at the open chair between Alex and Ari. "We could always hold an immortal beauty contest."

"Stick it, Rory," Krycek said.

"Just think of the money we could make if we put it on Pay-Per-View," MacIver went on warming to the idea. "We could hold another contest before hand to choose the twelve impartial judges."

"Shut up, Rory!" the three men shouted.

"I'd pay money to watch it," said a man from the table next to theirs.

"Me, too," piped up several more, until the whole restaurant stated their agreement.

"No way! We are not holding a beauty contest. End of story!" Mulder growled, glaring across the table at MacIver for having such a preposterous idea.

"Well, Mulder, if you are worried about your present condition, we can hold it on New Year's Day. That will give you plenty of time to recover from giving birth," MacIver replied.

Krycek rolled his eyes. "Rory, read my lips...we are not participating in a beauty contest. Not in this life time...not in any life time."

MacIver wasn't deterred; he figured that if Alex and Ari knew the amount of money such an event would generate they'd change their minds and convince Mulder to go along with it. Shinji might be the tougher sell, though.

Mulder looked over at Ari who had a distant look on his face. "Is something wrong?"

"Hmm, I was just thinking about my friends. When Kat is old enough to leave alone with Jason, I'm going to go back to White Mountain and find out what happened to them," Ari said, setting down his sandwich and wiping his hand.

"You can't go alone, Ari. It would be too dangerous," Mulder said.

"They were my gang, Mulder, and their lives are my responsibility. I won't put anyone else's life in danger. I'd go now if it weren't for Kat."

"Let's at least talk to Walter. He's been trying to establish some sort of direct communication with CBG Spender. If he succeeds then maybe we'll be able to find out what happened to your men."

"No, the smoking bastard is a deceiver, we cannot believe anything he says. I'm going next spring...alone." He met Mulder's concern hazel eyes. "Mulder, I need to find out what happened to them."

"Okay, Ari, it's not like I can stop you, but at least take a team with you."

"No. I'll be able to move better alone."

"Sure, fine, whatever," Mulder sighed, giving up.

Krycek kept his mouth shut. He did not intend to let the arrogant Aussie get himself killed. This spring he intended go with Ari to White Mountain, besides he had wanted to kill the smoking bastard for years and this might be his only opportunity. They went back to eating quietly each lost in their own private thoughts.

***

Six weeks later
Philadelphia
Wednesday, September 21
3:30 p.m.

Skinner climbed out of the limousine and held the door opened while Mulder scooted across the seat, he reached in and helped his lover out of the car. Mulder gave him a wary, tired smile as he stepped out into the sunshine. Skinner smiled back sympathetically and squeezed Mulder's hand reassuringly. At nearly five months pregnant, Mulder was already twice the size that the other immortals had been when they had given birth. He wasn't as large as Scully had been, but he was getting there -- fast. At least it was the fall season now, and Mulder didn't have to endure the hot, muggy weather any longer.

Skinner kept one eye focused on Mulder's face as the younger man chewed nervously on his bottom lip. He was looking anxiously at the noisy crowd that was kept back behind the rope barriers, they were shouting Mulder's name and tossing flowers. Most of the men and boys were dressed in threadbare clothing that had the look of being patched dozens of times. Skinner was saddened by the poverty he'd seen as they drove through Philadelphia. The influx of immigrants over the past year had over stressed the country's resources. As they walked up the steps to the courthouse Skinner kept his arm protectively around Mulder's back.

Mulder plucked a flower petal out of his hair and whispered into Skinner's ear. "Next time I want to land by helicopter on the roof." He stopped suddenly and stared back at the crowd below, then he motioned for General Kline. Skinner gave him a puzzled look.

"What is it, Prince Fox?" the General asked.

Mulder spoke quietly, "In the crowd there is a little boy with a rope tied around his waist. He is in the custody of his uncle who is very abusive toward him. I want him brought to me."

"Fox, how do you know this?" Skinner asked glancing down at the crowd, trying to find the little boy Fox was talking about.

Mulder shook his head; he didn't know how he knew he just did. He watched as the general took four of royal guardsmen into the crowd, there was a brief scuffle then the general emerged carrying a tiny boy no older than five. The little boy had frightened sapphire eyes framed by raven black hair. A purple bruise stood out against his pale white cheek even under the layers of dirt. The child's clothes were filthy and oversized, hanging off his slight frame.

As the General climbed the steps toward them, Skinner turned back to Mulder. "What are you planning, Fox? We can't save every street urchin."

"We can save a few, Walter. Take the boy from Clay would you? I'd do it myself, but I'm not it the best shape for carrying little boys even his slight size." Mulder reasoned that Walter's heart would turn to mush once he held the little boy.

The little boy's eyes were huge as he gazed at Mulder. He had heard all the stories from his uncle's neighbors about the beautiful immortals. He had even chanced a beating when he asked his uncle if he could come with him today to see Prince Fox. The boy's fear started to ebb as he was held gently by the large bald man who spoke softly to him as they climbed the rest of the way up the steps and entered the courthouse.

"No one is going to hurt you, do you have a name?" Skinner asked, softening toward the boy. His temper rose as he noticed the bruises and cigarette burns on the boy's arm that was just visible under the cuff. He wanted to order a public whipping of the boy's uncle.

"River," the boy said timidly, looking past Skinner and over to Mulder again, he whispered, "is that really Prince Fox? He's so beautiful."

"Yes he is, River. Would you like me to introduce you?" Skinner chuckled, enjoying the awe in the little boy's voice.

Mulder was keeping an eye on them, but remained quiet, wanting Walter to warm up to the boy.

"Fox, may I introduce you to River. River, this is Prince Fox." Skinner's eyes gleamed as he looked at his lover.

Mulder held out his hand and shook the little boy's hand. The contact made him pause; he felt a connection to the boy. Was it possible? Maybe that was the reason he had been able to feel River's plight. "It is a pleasure to meet you, River."

The little boy looked at him timidly. "You're so pretty...is there really a baby in your tummy?"

Mulder's mouth curled up. "Yes, there really is!"

"Wow. Does it hurt? How does the baby breathe? How does it come out?"

"So many questions. I'll answer them later, River." Mulder lightly touched the bruise on the side of the little boy's face and it slowly disappeared, he couldn't afford to dispense any more energy to heal the other visible bruises and burns on the rest of the boy's body. When they got River home he'd have Alex heal him. Mulder could tell that under all that dirt and grime there was a beautiful child. "River, would you like to come and live with me, King Walter, and Prince Alex?"

River's eyes grew fearful as he looked at the bald man holding him. "Are...are y-y-you King Walter?"

"Yes, River, but there's no reason for you to be afraid," Skinner said as the bailiffs opened the courtroom doors for them.

The boy was close to tears and his bottom lip quivered. "Uncle Seth said that you'd have me beheaded if I looked at you. P-p-please, don't behead me."

Skinner hugged the little boy reassuringly as they took a seat in the front of the courtroom behind the prosecutor's table. "Ssh, I'm not going to behead you. I've never beheaded anyone in my life." He kissed the top of the boy's tangled mop of hair. "Now, Prince Fox asked you a question, River, would you like to come and live with us?"

The boy wiped at his eyes as he sat on the large man's lap, he asked nervously, "What about Uncle Seth?" He knew his uncle would beat him for talking to the King.

Skinner pulled out a handkerchief and held it over the boy's runny nose. "Blow," he ordered and waited until River did, before answering his question. "If you come to live with us you won't be seeing your uncle again unless you want to."

Skinner was startled when the little boy leapt up on his lap and threw his arms around his neck and hugged him. "Yes, yes, yes! I want to live with you and Prince Fox."

Mulder smiled at Walter and River. "Don't I get a hug, too?"

The boy's face broke out in a huge smile and he threw himself into Mulder's arms, being careful of Mulder's belly, not wanting to hurt the baby. "Thank you, thank you, thank you..."

Mulder hugged the boy back.

"Well, isn't that sweet?" The snarling voice brought Mulder's attention to the front of the courtroom where Beiran Havock was being led in, in handcuffs and shackles.

"Shut up," the guard ordered, shoving Havock with his baton.

Havock continued to leer at Mulder, but kept his mouth shut as he took his seat at the table with his lawyer.

The bailiff stood by the chamber door as the judge stepped out. "All rise for the honorable Judge Ernest P. Strickland, presiding."

"Please be seated," the judge said as he took his seat.

The twelve-member jury was led into the room after the judge was seated.

Mulder's eyes shifted off Havock and the proceedings to River who was standing on the bench, leaning up against his side. River's fingers were clutching the sleeve on Mulder's suit coat. Mulder ignored the drone of the judge's voice as he began the trial; instead, he focused on reassuring the boy that he was safe now. "River, you'll like living at the Crystal Palace," he whispered, wrapping his arm around the small child and holding him close.

"Will I have a bed?" River whispered back. His uncle slept in a bed, while he slept on the floor next to the heater. He had never slept in a bed before.

"Yes. A big bed and your own bedroom," Mulder said. "Would you like that?"

"Yes, a lot." River couldn't imagine what it would be like. He wondered if he'd get to eat more than once a day. "Could I have pancakes for breakfast?" He'd had them once, when his uncle was feeling generous and took him to an actual restaurant for his birthday. His uncle ordered something called a grand slam for himself.

"You can have anything to eat that you want." Mulder shifted uncomfortably. Damn, not again. "Excuse me, River." Mulder leaned over and tapped Walter on the thigh, pulling his attention away from the trial.

"What?"

"I need to take a leak," Mulder said. The weight of the babies pressing down on his bladder had him needing to urinate frequently.

Skinner stood and ushered Mulder and River out of the courtroom. He had learned never to say *not again* to Mulder, after the first time the words had slipped through his lips. His ears were still ringing from the tongue-lashing his lover had inflicted on him. He held River's hand as they walked down the hallway and into the restroom. Mulder made a beeline for the urinals. "Do you have to go, River?" Skinner asked.

"No. Do those men always follow you?" River asked, referring to the thirty men patrolling the corridor.

"Yes. They are part of the royal guard, and every one of them is a highly trained sorcerer," Skinner replied.

"I'm going to be a sorcerer when I'm older."

"Have you been tested?" Skinner asked curiously. Somehow, he doubted it. It was required under law to have the boys tested before they were ten, but he had a hard time believing that River's uncle would have taken the time to have the boy tested.

"Tested? What's that?"

"It's a test they do to see if you have any mutant genes from the virus. The genes are what determines if you are going to turn into a sorcerer, clairvoyant, n'thral, a ghoul, or remain human."

"I don't wanna be a ghoul!" River cried, frightened. He knew that boys who turned into ghouls all died instantly.

Mulder finished washing his hands and came over. "Don't worry, River, you are not going to be a ghoul or any of the other mutants that King Walter mentioned." Not if what he sensed was correct.

"Fox," Skinner cautioned, he didn't approve of lying. "I'm sure River won't be a ghoul, but we still need to get him tested."

"Of course, he needs to be tested." Mulder looked critically at the little five-year-old boy. "We are going to have to get you into a tub of soapy water and scrub all that dirt away." He smoothed his hand over the boy's tangled hair; it was going to be a job getting all the knots out. Mulder took the boy's hand and headed for the door. Skinner caught him before he could open it.

*Fox, you're acting as if you know something, what is it?* Skinner asked telepathically.

*Walter, I have a feeling about River.*

*You don't think he's going to be a...*

*An immortal,* Mulder finished his thought for him.

River looked back and forth at the two silent men. He wondered why they were just standing there looking at each other and not saying anything.

*How, Fox?*

*I don't know...I can just sense it. Walter, we'll have Pendrell do a genetic test on him so we'll know for sure.*

*Okay, Fox.* He opened the door and followed them out of the restroom.

When they entered the courtroom, the prosecution was just calling Mulder to the witness stand. Mulder walked to the front of the courtroom and climbed the step to the witness box. He placed his hand on the bible the bailiff held out to him.

"Agent Mulder, do you promise to tell the truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?" the judge asked.

"Yes."

"Please be seated."

The prosecutor leaned against the rail. "Agent Mulder, when was the last time you saw the defendant?"

"At his murder trial on August 29, 1988."

"You were working for the FBI at the time, were you not?"

"Yes."

"Can you tell the court what your duties were for the FBI in 1988, Agent Mulder?"

"I worked for the Behavior Sciences Unit as a criminal profiler."

"You were considered the top profiler for that unit, were you not?"

"Objection, Your Honor!"

"What grounds, Counselor?"

"It is irrelevant to the case, Your Honor."

Attorney Haze interrupted, "I beg to differ. Agent Mulder's skills as a profiler was what led to Beiran Havock's arrest."

The judge considered their arguments for a few moments. "Overruled. You may answer the question, Agent Mulder."

Mulder looked over at the jury as he answered. "I was considered the top profiler working for the BSU at the time. My solve rate was ninety-four percent."

Attorney Haze had a smug look on his face. "Which was the *highest* ever obtained by any individual agent working for the FBI. Isn't that correct, Agent Mulder?"

"Yes."

"You did the profile that led to the capture of Mr. Havock, did you not?"

"Yes."

"Mr. Havock is claiming that there was no such trial in 1988, that he was never convicted of killing five college students. Can you inform the court of the details of the trial, Agent Mulder?"

"Objection, your honor!" Attorney Jarvis shouted.

"On what grounds, Counselor?"

"On the grounds that my client's freedom all hinges on the twelve year old memories of a single FBI agent. There is no evidence, no records, no witnesses, other than what is inside Agent Mulder's head."

"Your Honor, Agent Mulder has an eidetic memory and can account precisely for what happened twelve years ago, more assuredly than you could tell us what you had for lunch three days ago," Attorney Haze countered.

The judge looked with displeasure at the two attorneys. "I want to see both counselors in my chambers. Bailiff, show the jury to the jury room, and Agent Mulder you may resume your seat in the courtroom," he said, rising from his chair he was followed out of the courtroom by the two attorneys.

Havock stared at and was surprised at the lust he felt for the man who had been responsible for his many years of suffering and humiliation at the hands of the U.S. prison system. He had wanted to kill and torture Mulder over and over again, now all that he could think about was fucking the delicious looking young man. He smiled at Mulder as the agent stepped down from the witness stand, he reached down and squeezed the growing bulge in his pants, smoothing the fabric taut so Mulder could get an idea of his impressive size. Havock chuckled as Mulder adverted his eyes in disgust and hurried to sit next to Walter again.

Mulder's eyes kept wandering up to the clock. If they didn't hurry up he'd have to use the restroom again. Ten minutes later the judge and the attorneys re-entered the courtroom.

"You may show the jury back into the courtroom," the Judge said.

The judge took a deep breath as he sat behind his bench, he waited until the jury was seated before he began. "As much as it aggrieves me to do so, we cannot put a man away without some solid evidence other than one man's memories, no matter how perfect they may be. If you could have presented some evidence that Mr. Havock spent anytime in any U.S. prison on the charges of murder...any witnesses, a prisoner or a prison guard, then I would have been more than willing to accept Agent Mulder's testimony."

Mulder stumbled to his feet and walked up to the front of the courtroom. "Your Honor, with all do respect...that man violently tortured five men to death. There is no telling how many men he has killed since his escape...not to mention that he attacked the United States and..."

"Agent Mulder, the United States no longer exists and everything else is conjecture. Case dismissed!" the judge said, slamming his gavel down. The Judge dismissed the jury and rose to leave the courtroom.

The guard stepped forward and unlocked Havock's handcuffs and shackles; then he removed the anti-power cuff.

Havock smiled broadly at Mulder as the young man turned and started back to Walter and River. "Foxy, it is so good to see you again. Even with the bun in the oven, you're hot, so sweetly fuckable."

Skinner was livid, and in Havock's face instantly. "You are not to talk to or look at Agent Mulder, Scum! Regardless of what the judge said, you will pay for what you did to my brother!"

Havock vanished suddenly. He reappeared several blocks from the courthouse looking around, he vanished again and skipped around until he was sure he had eluded any pursuit.

Skinner was about to go after Havock when Mulder grabbed his arm. "Don't. Walter, you wanted to maintain the old U.S. legal system. You can't overrule the judge's ruling, if you still want that."

"Forget it, Fox. I won't let him get away with what he's done!" Skinner growled.

"I don't want him to get away with his crimes, or what he's done to Alex, either, but this isn't the way..."

"DAMN IT, FOX! BUT NOTHING!" Skinner yelled and vanished, leaving Mulder alone in the courtroom.

Mulder met the eyes of the bailiff who was visibly sweating, he gave a weak smile and walked back to the bench where River was sitting hugging his legs with his forehead resting on his knees. He sat next to the boy and rubbed his back. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

"Why did he yell at you?" River asked fearfully.

"He wasn't yelling at me. Walter was only upset that a bad man was being set free. He doesn't like to see injustice being done."

"Is he going to behead that man?" River leaned up against Mulder's side looking up at his face.

Mulder smiled down at him. He needed to assure the little boy that he didn't need to be afraid of Walter. "No. Walter would never kill anyone, even someone as bad as Havock. Unless it was in self-defense." He knew that was a lie, but it seemed to relax River who rested his head against Mulder's arm while his arms looped around Mulder's upper arm.

"Am I still coming to live with you?"

"Yes."

Mulder looked back up as Skinner reappeared. Skinner had a frustrated look on his face that he directed at Mulder. "Thanks, Fox. If you hadn't hindered me, I would have caught the bastard. You can tell Alex!"

Mulder glared at him. "I'm sorry, Walter. Next time you want to go off in a blind rage, I won't get in your way," he replied bitterly. He stood and helped River off the bench. "C'mon, River, it's time to go home."

"Fox, I'm not through talking to you."

"Is that a command, Your Majesty?"

"Stop being such a prick."

"Then stop being such a jerk."

"Fox..."

"Walter, I'd prefer that we discuss this at home," he said, then telepathically added, *you're scaring River.*

Skinner looked down at the little boy who was fearfully clinging to Mulder's leg while sucking on his thumb. Skinner felt his anger drain away. "Okay, Fox." He bent down and scooped the little boy up in his arms. "I'm sorry, River, I didn't mean to yell."

"Are you going to spank, Prince Fox?" River asked, removing his thumb from his mouth.

"No. I'd never hit, Fox, I love him too much," Skinner assured.

"Good." River's stomach growled.

"Are you hungry?" Skinner asked, as he carried the boy down the courthouse steps to the waiting limousine.

River didn't want to admit to being hungry; his uncle always punished him if he complained, and he wasn't sure what King Walter would do. "No, I had an apple and peanut butter sandwich today," the boy replied, looking around the limousine in awe.

Again, Skinner felt his temper rise toward the boy's uncle. It was dinnertime. "Do you mean to tell me that is all you've eaten all day?"

"Yes, sir. I'm not really hungry. Yesterday, I had breakfast and lunch. Mr. Thomas gave me beans and franks for sweeping the hallways."

Skinner was appalled that a grown man would make a small child work for food. He made a note that he was going to have a word with this Mr. Thomas. "Clay, I would like to stop for pizza before we go to the airport. You do like pizza, don't you, River?"

"I don't know, I never had it?"

Mulder looked at the little boy. "You've never had pizza? How old are you, River?"

River perked up; although he had no idea how pizza tasted he did know his age. "I'm four. I'm going to be five October 15."

"That's less than a month from now, and only two days after my birthday." Mulder smiled.

Skinner was perplexed as he watched the little boy who was sitting pressed close to Mulder's side with his hand clutching Mulder's sleeve. It worried him that children were living in poverty without proper care. He would appoint a commission to look into the problem once he got back. Then he focused back on River. In the bright sunlight River's eyes had appeared a bright blue, but in the car, Skinner realized they were more of a teal color. It was hard to tell what River looked like under all that grime and the layers of baggy clothing, but what little he could see showed a very cute little boy. If Fox was right and River had the immortal gene, they would have to closely guard the boy. Skinner pulled himself out of his musings as he met Mulder's distant eyes. He forced a smile when he looked at the boy. "You'll like pizza, River. We'll even let you decide what you want on it."

River's eyes widened with worry. "Okay," he said tentatively, then turned to Mulder and whispered, "will you help me choose, please?" He had no idea what one would put on a pizza, and he was afraid of making a mistake. River was worried that if he made the wrong choice then the King wouldn't allow him to live with them.

"Don't worry, River. We'll order several pizzas then you can choose which you like best." Mulder smiled down at him then squirmed uncomfortably, resting his hand on his belly, he sighed, "Damn, I need to use the restroom, again."

Skinner felt suddenly guilty. Looking at his lover's weary face it was clear Fox was feeling miserable. He leaned across the aisle and rested his hands on Mulder's knees then tilted his head as he leaned the rest of the way and kissed Mulder chastely. "I'm sorry about earlier. I was out of line. It wasn't your fault that Havock got away. I shouldn't have agreed to a trial. I had the authority to sentence him, regardless of my wanting to keep our former legal system intact, I could have made an exception."

"Do you still want me to be the one to break the news to Alex?"

"We'll both tell him. I'm going to order a search and a reward for Havock's capture."

"We're here, Your Majesty," General Kline said from the front seat as the limousine pulled into the pizzeria.

When they climbed out of the limousine Mulder rushed straight for the restroom, leaving River in Skinner's care. Several of the palace's guards beat Mulder there, making sure the restroom was clear of men.

Skinner held River's hand as they walked into the restaurant, where the excited owner showed them to a large round table. The General sat at the table with them as did three of the royal guard. The rest took seats at the other tables. Only four didn't sit to eat, they went out front to stand guard. "Let's get your hands washed first, River," Skinner said, leading the young boy into the restroom.

Mulder was at one of the sinks washing his hands. He smiled as Skinner lifted River up so he could wash his hands under the faucet. "Let me help," Mulder said, squirting some liquid soap into his hands, he then rubbed his large hands over River's getting all of the dirt off them. "Definitely the first thing we're going to do when we get you home is give you a bath. River, when was the last time you had a bath?"

"September 1st. We always take a bath on the first day of the month."

"Twenty-one days! Well, you will bathe and wash your hair daily when you live with us, young man," Skinner said.

"Okay," River said quietly. He wasn't sure about the daily thing, maybe once a week.

When they got back to their table, Skinner lifted River into the booster seat. Mulder sat on the other side of the boy and opened the menu. "What do you say, River, if we get one large pizza with only cheese, then one with pepperoni and pineapple, then one sausage and mushroom, then one with the works?"

"That sounds good!" River agreed, smiling at Mulder and looking at the other five men