Title: Nova

Author: Angel

Feedback: Please! I love every but of it!

Classification: MSR, Colonization fic.

Spoilers: All the way up to 7^th season finale but NOT including even though nothing much is really mentioned.

Rating: NC-17 (for some parts-very mild consensual sex- but to be safe!) Others are probably PG-13 or so for naughty words and implied naughty stuff =).

Summery: The inevitable happens. Mulder has planned ahead and now does everything in his power to keep Scully safe.

You MUST read all parts to understand! Available at Ephemeral and my home page.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. Characters are property of Fox, 1013, ect. No money is being made. No infringement is intended. A few poems and songs are used without permission, names of authors are given. Prayers which I did not write, and I don’t know who wrote are included in some areas.

Homepage: (to find missing parts and sooner or later the completed version, also posted at Ephemeral)

A HUGE thanks to Evie my beta reader! Nova would never be doing this well, or going as fast, without her help! Thank you thank you thank you thank you! Umm… one more! Thank you!

Note: Want Nova updates in the mail? Just let me know!

"Baby don’t look up, the sky is falling." Tori Amos

(32/?)

Day 190

"Maybe you should just do it, Mulder." Scully said stroking her fingers through his hair.

"Do what?" He asked not moving his head from its spot pillowed on her breasts as his hand rubbed her protruding belly lightly.

Scully smiled at the back of his head. For the past few days Mulder has been in his own little world; deep in thought. "Agree to run Nova."

He let out a deep sigh, half his focus on Nova and half on the gentle motions against Scully’s flesh under his palm. "I don’t know…" He mumbled after some time. "I’ll admit, I’m flattered they want me. But it’s a lot of work. What if people change their minds suddenly? Then what? Am I supposed to walk away and let someone else take over?"

"You wont be doing it alone. Skinner already said he would do it. People are more likely to trust two people’s joint decisions, rather then one. You can back each other up if it comes to that."

"Skinner and I only get along so well." Mulder grumbled. He frowned slightly; the baby had stopped kicking a few moments ago. As gently as he could, Mulder rolled over onto his other side so he could look up at Scully’s face.

"It will be fine." She said cupping his jaw in her hand. "I think you should do it."

With a thoughtful sigh Mulder nodded.

Day 192

Amanda wouldn’t turn around. She knew Skinner was standing behind her in the doorway of the Medical Room.

"Mandy?" He called to her after a few tense moments.

"Yes?" Was her curt response.

Skinner walked into the room, shutting the door softly behind him. "Can we talk?"

"About what, Walter?" Amanda pointlessly moved the contents of a shelf around, anything not to face Skinner.

"You certainly aren’t making this easy."

"I don’t know what you are talking about."

Skinner slammed his palm down on the tabletop. Amanda jumped. "Fine, Amanda." He said standing. "Act like a spoiled brat-"

She spun around with a look of anger that stopped Skinner’s sentence dead. "Don’t you dare say that, Walter!"

"Well its true" He struggled to keep his voice in check. "Amanda, you won’t even talk to me, or anyone for that matter."

"That’s because the only thing people want to talk about is how I killed my father." Amanda swallowed back a sob.

"That’s not true. We don’t have to talk about that. We can talk about anything at all. Hell, we don’t even have to talk." He took a tentative step towards her, with his hand out stretched. But stopped when she took two steps away. "Let’s take a walk, it’s fairly warm outside."

"No." She said firmly.

Skinner let out a frustrated breath. "Amanda… please, don’t shut me out."

"I’ll do whatever I want." Amanda turned away from him as she silently cursed herself for sounding so childish.

"I give up. When you want to speak to me again I’ll be waiting for you." With that Skinner slammed the door behind him.

***

"Mind if I sit down?" Scully asked shyly as she walked up to Skinner, he sat near the front of the church room, they were the only two there at a fairly late hour.

Skinner looked up, surprised, but pleased. "Please do."

Scully carefully lowered herself into the chair.

"Mulder just announced his acceptance, I’m sure you had a part in that."

She laughed softly. "It did take a little encouragement. I think he is feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment."

Skinner nodded. "That’s understandable." He glanced over his shoulder towards the door for the church. It seemed, for the first time since Scully was attacked she came along. Skinner hadn’t seen her anywhere, outside of her room, without Mulder. "Where is he?"

"Getting a few books."

He nodded again as the silence took on a tense undertone. "I’m worried about Amanda." Skinner said after a few long moments. "I’m…. I’m trying to help her but she just won’t let me."

"She might just need some time."

"No… Everyday I think she is getting worse. It’s like I’m losing her piece by piece. It’s like she doesn’t even want anything to do with me anymore."

Scully was silent for a few moments. "Skinner… she just lost the only man in her life, by her own hand. She is probably feeling a wary towards you now."

Leaning back in his chair, Skinner rubbed his face. "But if I let her slip away I might not get her back."

Sensing Mulder’s presence, Scully glanced over he shoulder to see him standing in the doorway. Placing a comforting hand on Skinner’s arm she rose. "If I see Amanda I’ll try to talk with her. Give her time, these changes aren’t easy on anyone."

"I know… Take care, Scully." He said as she walked down the aisle.

Day 194

"Hey, Scully?"

"Hmm?" She didn’t look up from her partly reclined position on the bed reading at Mulder, who sat at the table.

Mulder paused for a moment. For days he had been working up the courage, figuring out the wording, to ask this. "Scully… How did you know Benjamin was going to come after you?" He spoke in one long breath.

Slowly she looked up from her book and met his curious and nervous eyes. "I…. I don’t really know. Maternal instinct maybe." She said with a slightly uncomfortable laugh.

At her response Mulder stood from his chair, gaining some confidence that she actually answered the question. "Maternal instincts caused dreams seeing into the future?"

Scully let out a long breath. "Mulder… I really don’t know."

As if he didn’t hear her, he went on. "I just don’t understand how you knew. I’m not questioning that you did by all means. I was there. I saw the way you reacted to the dreams." He sat on the edge of the bed, starring at her intently. "I wish there was a way to research and study it."

"You’re sounding like me." Scully muttered with a slight smile.

Mulder laughed, with a nervous edge. He didn’t know why this conversation was so touchy for them. Maybe it was because he had too many things on his mind, too many questions that Scully could react oddly too. "I just want answers."

Scully dismissed him with a wave of her hand. "I just want to forget about it."

He nodded slowly. "I don’t think you have forgotten about it, Scully."

She swallowed thickly. "I… think I am over it." Scully was never able to lie outright to Mulder, unless she was lying to herself at the same time.

"Scully." Mulder placed his hand on her knee to bring her eyes up to his, they had strayed to the closed book in her hands. "We both know you are far from over it."

"What do you mean by that?" She said, suddenly feeling defensive.

"Scully… You don’t- it’s impossible to get over something so quickly."

"Don’t analyze me, Mulder." Scully said sternly.

He held up a hand. "I’m not. I’ve just noticed you are acting differently."

"How so?" She asked tentatively, not really sure if she wanted the answer or not.

Mulder paused for a moment, he hadn’t planned the wording for this, he was hoping he would have to talk about it. "You barely leave the room. And when you do, its only when I go with you. That’s not like you, Scully."

"I don’t want to talk about this right now, Mulder."

"Scully-" He started before she interrupted.

"I’m not up to it right now, I’m tired." She said quickly, knowing he would not push the subject after he saying that.

"It’s…. just going to take time, Scully." Mulder spoke calmly, as if softening the tone of his voice would take the edge out of hers. "And I’m here for you."

Scully nodded, swallowing her pride. Hearing her own words used toward her made her realize just how far from being healed she was. And how lucky she was to have Mulder to help her.

Note: Ok, as you already hava figured out, I am pressed for time. But my summer course is over in two weeks. So after that I can work more on Nova. So just hang in there. We aren’t done yet =).