Title: Still Life Author: Fiona E-mail: nurseowens@clara.co.uk Archive: Anywhere Rating: G Summary: Ewwww mushy babyfic! <spits> Disclaimer: Not mine. Just pretending. Author's note: I haven't a clue why I wrote this. It came right out of left field and was written in five minutes flat on a rainy Sunday night. <shrugs, shakes head>> And I don't even *like* babies... <g> *~*~*~*~* 'Still Life' "Did you use all the film?" Margaret watched her daughter stare in wonder at the polaroid shots. "Oh yes..". A secret smile played upon her lips. "Do you want to hold onto them? Fox hasn't seen them yet." Scully nodded. "Thanks Mom. He should be back soon, he said was going to get something from the car." A tired grin spread across her face and she rolled her eyes "..apparently it's a surprise, although I don't know what's taking him so long. He's been gone for over an hour!" "Oh I'm sure he'll be here in a while, Dana". Still smiling, her mother picked up her coat and paused at the door, turning to gaze at the small cot by her daughter's bed. "I think we've had enough surprises for one day" she whispered "I'll see you tomorrow sweetheart". But leaving was the last thing she wanted to do at that moment, and so she lingered a while longer, enjoying the view. Captivated by the photos, Scully didn't even hear her. She began to spread the images out over the bedspread, touching them reverently. A small wrinkled baby, bloody and screaming. SNAP. Mulder cutting the cord, his face a mixture of fear and awe. SNAP. Mulder kissing her forehead as she held their son for the first time. SNAP. Tiny fingers grasping her own thumb. SNAP. New born blue eyes blinking at strange surroundings... In total, almost twenty precious moments captured forever on film. When she came to the last image in the envelope a large lump formed in her throat. This one was different. It was a picture of Mulder. Fast asleep in an uncomfortable chair in the waiting room with his arms around an over-sized teddy bear. His hair was a mess and he was drooling onto the blue ribbon around the bears' neck. Someone had thoughtfully placed a paper sign on the adjacent chair that read: 'New father. Do not disturb.' There was a soft chuckle from the other side of the room. "I thought you would like that one." Scully looked up to find her mother leaning against the door frame, shaking her head with uncontrollable amusement. "He's still there, you know. Do you want me to go and get him?" With a watery smile, Scully looked back at the photograph. "No" she whispered softly, reverently touching the image with her fingertips, "Let him sleep for a while." *~*~*~*~* Fiona Visit Fi's Place at - http://www.geocities.com/puritycontroller/