Disclaimer: Ahem. Let's all sing along! Chris Carter, oh can't you see? I know they don't belong to me. They belong to Ten Thirteen. Mulder and Scully and all the rest, they are the best. I'm borrowing them with utmost respect; they'll be home before you guess. And now I will call this lame song to a rest.

Author's Notes: I thought that I would re-visit the idea of one of the character's deaths and how both the Agents would deal with it. And so was born the idea of Mulder as a Guardian Angel watching over his Scully. This most definitely has hints of a Romance, so if you're non-shipper friendly you have been warned. Special thanks go to my betas- Crysta, Astoria, and Mrs. H and to my friends and crew on the USS TrustNo1. The Lone Gunpersons rule!

"Home To You"
by Gillian Taylor

Thirty-Two years have passed since I crossed over. It's been a while, but I still remember it as if it was yesterday. The curse of a photographic memory, I guess, to remember your own death. Of course, it had to be for a stupid reason. I know as well as you do that I took unnecessary risks. I just never counted on Krycek being there--I never counted on the bullet that entered my left temple. I didn't count on you being fast on my heels, your scream as you saw me fall, the sharp report of your gun as you killed Krycek in retaliation.

The last thing that I saw with my mortal eyes was your anguish, the last thing that I felt were your tears as they splashed on my face, the last thing that I heard was your pleading not to leave you. I couldn't have stayed with you, my Scully, with my mortal body. However, I did fulfill your wish with my immortal one.

They have sent someone a couple of times to bring me home, but each time I spurned them to insist that I had to stay with you. It was my penance for leaving you alone. How could I go on to paradise without you by my side?

I was there at my funeral; I saw your tears mingle with your mother's. I heard you tell me that you loved me. I heard the regret in your voice as you wished that you had told me before I died. Oh Scully, I knew. I always knew.

And so, thirty-two years later, I'm still by your side. You had continued the fight against the Consortium. I was there when you defeated them. I heard you give me the credit for their dissolution, as I heard you whisper that it was all for me. You made me so happy that day.

I was there when you met your husband--a man enough like me to be spooky. I liked him, Scully. I really did. And I'm glad that you found someone to be with since I wasn't there. I protected you a couple of times when the Consortium had sent its goons to attack you and your children. I know that you wondered about it, but it was me that caused the picture to fall on them in the living room. I knocked over a picture of myself to warn you of your danger.

I'm just glad that I was there to protect you. And, though you would never admit it, you only grew more beautiful with age. I still regret not being here with you in my flesh and blood body. I still wonder what I would look like as an older man, by your side as always. Would I be as distinguished as Skinner was when he died? I can only hope so.

Skinner came to see me one time, wishing me luck in caring for you. He understood why I had to stay. I just wish that I had told him in 'real life' how much he meant to me, to us. He was and still is a great man.

I was also there when your husband died. I wrapped diaphanous arms around you as you cried and somehow I knew that you felt me. He too came to see me. We spoke for a while about the woman that we both loved. And I cried when he told me what he always knew, that I would always hold your heart. He was only a substitute, but he knew that you loved him in your own way. He comes by to see you sometimes, and we'll talk for a while about the past, but he always returns to the light. He told me once that he was happy that I was protecting you. He too is a great man.

Now, long after my bones have decayed into dust, you are still alive. Your once vibrant red hair has faded to white, but your eyes are still the same corn-flower blue. Sometimes, in your sleep, I come to you. I talk to you about the past, the present and the future. I know that you sense my presence for you always awaken with a smile when I come by. At first, only sadness accompanied my dream-visits, but now you look forward to them.

You started speaking directly to me the other day, much to my surprise. I was standing in a corner of the kitchen when you turned to me and asked if I thought you should make pancakes or waffles for breakfast. To say that I was startled is an understatement. Your son, Gregory Fox (and I am glad that you chose not to saddle him with the first name of Fox), stopped by and watched you speak to me with sorrow in his eyes. He knew as I did that your time was coming. That's the only time when you can truly see the dead.

You started a running commentary of your day, whether you should do laundry or gardening, go to the store or stay at home, and a multitude of other chores always addressing it to me. Of course I couldn't respond, but you continued, finding me unerringly wherever I was in the room.

Skinner told me once that I was your Guardian Angel. Of course I didn't believe him, if anything I was a Dark Angel, kept in the light by your love. But now, as your time draws closer that conviction is changing. I am a protector and a constant companion--perhaps that does make me a Guardian Angel.

Today, today was the turning point, however. You turned towards me again and asked me bluntly when you could come home with me. Of course I couldn't answer, that is His duty. I never told you, Scully. I'm a true believer now. I know that there is a God.

You continued with your chores, but you continued to ask me when I could bring you home. Tears poured down my face each time that you asked. I could never think or even dare to hope that you could come home with me now. Which is why I was startled when you collapsed at my feet in the early afternoon.

I was frantic. I tried to call 911, but there is only so much that a ghost could do with a telephone. You were dying at my feet and all I wanted to do was to save your life. I didn't want you to join me just yet, but He took that decision out of my hands.

You opened your eyes again and before my gaze you were just as I remembered you. Your hair was once again that shade of red, your skin flawless in its youth. You smiled at me, happy now that I was truly there with you. You came to me and gave me a hug. A hug that I could *feel.*

I knew then that you were dead. And now, your soul was with me. You kissed me gently and asked me to take you home. I had thought that I was unwelcome there, but a light appeared in the corner of the room. As we walked through that light to the Otherplace, I knew.

After Thirty-two years I too could come home. To you.

THE END

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