Title Life times ~ Secrets All Around
Author Quetzel
E-mail powder_puff@hotmail.com
Feel free to Archive.
Category C, Alternate Universe, and Alternate Time! MSR
Rating PG-13
Disclaimer All characters and ideas from The X-Files belong to Chris 
Carter, Fox and Ten Thirteen Productions. 
Summary The year is 1820 and Mulder is a spy for the British. His 
supervisors decide that it is time he took on a partner.... together he 
and Dana Scully make their way into the office of a French General and 
all Hell breaks lose!
Note This is the first in a series I'm going to start, "Lifetimes" will 
be a set of stories set in different times, dates, worlds, all MSR. I 
might put some historical stuff in it.

ROMANCE ~ MSR
--------------------------

 "Get out of my house!" He shouted at her, the fury building 
up inside of him.
Phoebe gathered her clothes, the shame showing on her face, "Fox, I-"
"No, I don't want to hear it. Get out of my house and don't ever come 
back here! Now!"
She slipped on her dress, gathered the rest of her belongings and 
quickly fled from the room, the valet opened the door for her and she 
vanished out into the street. The valet, a man named Richard Garrick, 
turned to the young Earl. "Sir, was that wise?"
"Richard, you know just as well as I do that she was a no good... 
trollop! I gave her everything I had and I've given enough! There was 
nothing outside the bed chamber that she did for me!"
Richard nodded his hand, handing his master an envelope, "Sir, this 
arrived from General Fisher this afternoon. I didn't' want 
to....interrupt your meeting with Miss Phoebe."
Mulder snatched the letter and turned to his valet, "Thank you, Richard, 
would you have the cook make some tea?"
"Yes, Sir." Richard turned on his heels and vanished through the study 
door. Mulder did not read the letter until after he prepared himself for 
the inevitable. He would be sent to France again, the last spy, Jack 
Willis, had been captured and killed. Mulder would be sent to the front 
line again to get information from contacts. 

 "Lord Mulder,

 I was over joyed to hear that you returned from your last mission 
safely, but then again, you always do. I do believe that you have heard 
of the death of Jack Willis, it is a tragedy, but Willis wasn't as good 
at his job as you are, but even you are in need of aid every now and 
again. I have found you a partner, and request your presence at my 
office later this evening, by 10 o' clock if at all possible. Your new 
partner will be waiting to meet you, and I have another assignment for 
you.

God Bless,

 Walter 
Skinner

 Mulder set the letter down, "PARTNER?" <What for? I do not 
need a partner! Perhaps they fear that I am slipping... if they do think 
that, I would be cast out of this business for sure! Is that a bad 
thing?> He wondered. Perhaps it was time he retired... settled, he did 
need an heir after all! Someone to watch over the Mulder fortune. He 
took the letter from Skinner and tossed it into the fire place, letting 
it be consumed by the dark flames and the scolding heat. He paced for a 
moment, perhaps this new partner was going to spy on HIM. Fox Mulder had 
first started out in the business of spying when he was fifteen years of 
age, he had been sent to pose as a servant boy for another spy by the 
name of Wilder. Wilder was under investigation, and no one could get 
close enough to see who's side he was really on... so they sent a boy 
in. The supervisor of the mission had looked down at him proudly, "No 
one will suspect you, Fox. Report daily and remember... don't get 
caught! Once a spy's game is up, the consequences are going to hurt." 
He had lived by those words most of his life. At the age of twenty one, 
he was placed in the French government, his contacts in France grew and 
he was a perfect weapon... except now he had to worry about this new 
partner!

 Walter Skinner smoked his pipe, starring off at the moon. 
Fox Mulder entered the small office, a small salute and Skinner ordered 
him to sit down in a chair. Mulder looked at him closely, "Is a partner 
necessary, Sir?"
"Of course, Mulder, you need someone to watch your back. Remember how 
Supervisor Jenkins sent you in when you were not even a man?"
"Yes."
"He had said that no one would care about you being a servant in the 
house, they wouldn't be suspicious of an innocent looking boy... but you 
were exactly what they needed to pull Wilder out and put him in the 
gallows."
"Yes."
"And again, we have found someone that the French would never suspect."
"Another young boy? You're partnering me with a child?!"
"No, Mulder, a woman."
"WOMAN? That's just as bad! What are you thinking, Skinner? You can't 
put a woman on the front line! It's too dangerous!"
"Sir, I assure you, I can be of some use." A female voice said from the 
door.
Mulder turned around to see a stunning woman with red hair, curls around 
her shoulder, wearing a white dress. She looked as if she came from a 
royal family! And the eyes... Mulder feared he could drown in them.
"Mulder, meet Dana Scully. Your new partner." Skinner said proudly, 
escorting Miss Scully into a chair.
She smiled at him faintly, "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Mulder."
Fox starred at her, "You can't be serious, Skinner! She's just a girl!"
Dana's face went stiff, "Sir, I do look forward to working with you, 
and-"
"Please, enough. Miss Scully is it?"
"Yes."
"Miss Scully, you should not be here. You belong any where else BUT 
here!"
Skinner gave him a warning look, "Listen to me, Mulder, no one is going 
to suspect a woman such as Miss Scully."
"And what is she going to pose as, my sister perhaps?" Mulder smirked.
"Your wife." Skinner snapped.
Mulder jumped a little, "Wife? How are we to do that?!"
"Months from now we are to announce your engagement. You are to be 
married in four months, understand? Of course, it will be a real 
marriage, and there will be many people there and also French spies that 
are watching over you, Mulder. This wedding is to convince the spies, 
whoever they are."
Mulder turned to her, "You're going to force us to marry? This is 
preposterous!"
"It's for England." Dana said, her voice strong, "I am a patriot, Sir, 
and this is a small sacrifice. We are only to be husband and wife in 
name."
Mulder sat still in his chair, "Sir, she's too young!"
"You were fifteen when you started!" Dana snapped.
"I'm not a girl!" He returned.
Skinner stood between them, "Mulder, Miss Scully seems very willing to 
make this work, you however, I have doubts about. Either you cooperate 
with Miss Scully, or I'll have you dumped down the ranks, understand?"
He nodded his head.
"Miss Scully, please let me escort you to your carriage. Mulder, wait 
here for a bit." Skinner took the young girl's arm and led her out the 
door. Mulder fumed silently, <A partner... a girl! WHAT are they 
thinking?>

 FOUR MONTHS LATER The wedding had been planned by Skinner. 
The priest was an old man, a friend of Mulder's. They were married, but 
to them, it would never seem that way. Mulder saw no reason to have a 
wedding party, but Skinner said it was to convince the French that he 
had actually taken a wife. They might not believe that he suddenly 
married out of no where. So, for the first month, it was "arranged" for 
Mulder to meet Miss Scully at a ball... to dance with her... to share a 
quick kiss with her. They weren't sure WHEN the French were watching, 
but they had to make it seem that he was fond of her. So after a month 
of meeting with her, acting as if the world revolved around her, he 
"asked her to marry him." And from there on, the wedding was the biggest 
talk in London. Mulder turned to his new bride, "Are you all right, you 
look pale." He whispered.
She turned to him, "I didn't imagine my wedding to be like this."
He shrugged his shoulders, "You said you were a patriot."
"Shh! I am."
He took his new "wife" and led her down a set of steps, "Care for a 
dance, Dana darling?" He asked, his voice dripping with sweetness.
She grinned, "Of course, husband."
As they waltzed around the room, a group gathered to watch the new 
husband and wife, among them were sets of French spies that they could 
not pin point. The dance ended, and husband and wife went to their 
carriage. Dana was wearing a long white dress, the sleeves done around 
with lace, her hair covered by a small veil and her cheeks flushed. The 
crowd gave their best wishes, their embraces and hand shakes and 
salutes. Finally, they got into the Lord's carriage and Dana Scully was 
taken to her new "home."

 He watched her in the carriage, sitting opposite from him, 
starring down at her hands. "Lord Mulder, I'm sorry that you do not 
agree with me being assigned to this... project."
"First of all, I suppose you should call me Fox. It is my first name. 
Second of all, I argued with Skinner that day to try to protect you. I 
don't believe that this is a place for a young woman."
"This is all because I'm a woman?"
"There is a bloody war going on here, Miss Scully! You could be killed! 
That's what they will do when they catch a spy, they kill him... or her 
in your case."
She crossed her legs and smoothed out her dress, the carriage was 
bouncing and she was starting to feel ill, "Lord Mulder-"
"Fox."
"Fox, I know there is a war going on. And you are a fool, if I do say so 
myself. A war is no place for a woman? I was brought in to stop this 
war, Sir! I won't be doing it single handily, of course not, but I will 
do my best to end this and to stop the young boys who fight with their 
guns... to stop this killing and blood shed!"
"How- how did you become a spy?" He asked, his voice lower as if there 
was someone in the carriage he was trying to hide it from.
She looked down at her hands again, "My parents were killed when I was 
ten. I was an orphan, more or less."
"No brothers and sisters?"
"No, Sir, they vanished and I was the only one left. My parents were 
killed by French spies... my father was a General. My older brother, 
William, my sister, Melissa, and my younger brother, Charles, all 
disappeared. God knows what happened to them. We were only children! 
Poor Charles."
"What happened to you then?"
"I was discovered walking in the street with my pretty blue dress by a 
Captain named Harold Carrings. He took me in, raised me... and I was 
conditioned for this position."
"How old are you now?" Mulder asked quickly.
"I have just recently turned eighteen."
"You mean for eight years you were conditioned to be a spy? Since you 
were a child?"
"Yes, my Lord."
He took her hand, "What have they done to you? How could Carrings do 
that to a girl!"
She pulled back, "That doesn't matter anymore. What matters now is that 
I am here with you and we have a mission to complete. They say the 
French are making ships powered by steam... we are to retrieve these 
plans, plant fake battle movements and return home."
Mulder leaned against the seat, "Yes, I guess so. Easier said then done, 
Miss Scully."
"Lady Mulder now..." She whispered.
A faint smile appeared on his lips, "Lady Mulder... I wondered in there 
ever would be another Lady Mulder. You are the first Lady Mulder to come 
to my home since my mother."
"What is the name of your home?" She asked.
"Candor Abbey."

 Mulder and the driver gathered the bags that Dana had and 
together they entered the great hall. Her mouth fell open, "Oh, my 
goodness. It's so... immense."
He smiled at her, "Please, leave your things for the servants to 
retrieve, you must be tired."
A row of servants was waiting for them inside the main door, "This is 
Lady Mulder." He introduced. "Dana, this is Richard Garrick, he 
basically runs the house."
"If there is anything you should require, Lady Mulder, feel free to tell 
me and I will have it done."
She smiled at him, he was an older man, with gray hair and eyes that had 
seen the world. "Thank you, Mr. Garrick."
Mulder took his new wife and led her up to the bed chambers after the 
servants had left. He opened the door, leading her inside. "Any of the 
servants could be with the French." He whispered in her ear, causing her 
to shiver.
She nodded her head, "We must be careful." Dana's eyes fell on the bed. 
<What are his plans?>
He went across the room to another door, "This is your chamber, Dana, 
this door connects my chamber to yours. You will be safe in here, the 
door had bolts and locks, as does the window. If you should need my aid, 
just call for me. I am sorry that I failed to get you a suitable maid, I 
shall have one for you as soon as possible."
"Actually, I had a maid once named Shana, and I would like to have her 
again, if you don't mind. I trusted here."
"Shana? We shall discuss it in the morning then."
She nodded her head, examining the room. He took her hand into his, 
kissing it, "Good night, my lady."
"Good night, my Lord."
He slipped through the door but she did not hear it lock. Dana walked 
around the room, the canopy bed was covered in blue silk, the window 
looked out onto a small court yard. In the corner of the room sat a 
desk, in another corner was a table, against the wall was a great big 
bed... she wondered if her new husband would ever come to her. <No, this 
is business. He must have a mistress.> She quickly undressed by herself 
and slipped into her long gray dressing gown, then got into her new bed. 
The bed was warm and the room was kept comfortable by the fire.... but 
she did not find sleep easily this night.

 General Marchand of Napoleon's Grand Army looked down at the 
report that had been mailed to him earlier. "Mulder has taken on a wife? 
What was he thinking... and she's an English woman!"
Captain Dupuis let out a sigh, "Another man has fallen victim of love."
The General raised his brow, "Really... I wonder what he'll do with her 
when we send him on assignments."
"Sir, I hear from the spy we positioned in his home that she is young, 
and very beautiful. Perhaps this requires a meeting..." The Captain was 
thoughtful.
"They sent you a drawing of her, nest-ce pas?" The General looked at the 
Captain, a faint smiling turning his lips.
The Captain grinned, "Oui, mon General! Here it is." He handed him the 
black and white sketch of the girl.
"Elle est tres belle! I haven't seen an Englishwoman so lovely... but 
Captain, I know what you are planning. I know how your mind works."
"Pardon?" The Captain asked, amazed slightly.
"Please, Sir, we all know what a rake you are. I know what you'd want 
with Major Mulder's wife... and il est mon ami, I can't let you near 
her. I can't trust you."
"Mon General, I am wounded by you accusations." He mocked.
The General turned around, "If we want to keep Mulder with us, you will 
stay away from his pretty little wife."
"Saving her for yourself, eh General?" The Captain almost laughed.
"Oui, if anyone is to have this belle anglaise, besides Mulder of 
course, it shall be me." 
The two men laughed, "Sir, you are to call Mulder back soon, isn't that 
true?"
"Yes, I wanted a report from him, and it's about time that he met some 
other officers. I have great plans for Mulder in this army."

 Dana entered the library, looking for her partner. "My 
Lord?" She asked. He seemed disturbed, his eyes flashing over pieces of 
paper and envelopes.
"Dana darling, care to join me for a walk?" He asked calmly. 
When ever he said 'Dana darling' it meant he wanted to get out away from 
the servants, he didn't trust any of them, besides Richard of course.
"Of course, sweeting, let me get my wrap." She quickly went up to her 
chamber, wrapping the shawl around her shoulders and following her 
partner outside.
He took her hand, leading her out to the pond behind the house. "Dana, I 
just received a letter from General Marchand. He requests that I go 
leave for Paris right away... and he wants me to bring you with me."
"Me? How does he know about me!" She hissed.
"The spies, Dana, don't trust the servants. Watch what you say. Now, 
have the house keeper pack your things that you wish to take, we leave 
tomorrow night."
"So soon? I-"
"Dana," He held her shoulders, "I want this mission over with as soon as 
possible so I may return you to safety."
"Sir, I did not ask for your protection-"
"I do not care, Lady Mulder." He said, his voice harsh. "Every second I 
fear that they will take you and rip you to shreds when they find out."
"You're just worried that I'll give you away-"
"I'm worried that you'll be killed."
She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, "Whatever you say, My 
Lord."
He took off his cloak, covering her with it, "Let us get you inside 
before you catch your death from cold." He wrapped an arm around her 
waist and led her back to the house. <Mulder is actually worried about 
me.... why?>

 She was exhausted, he could tell. Her little maid, Shana, 
had come along also. "Fox." General Marchand laughed, coming towards 
them. They had just arrived at Mulder's French home, a house as grand as 
Candor Abbey. She was over whelmed at his connections in England, and in 
France. Mulder wrapped an arm protectively around her waist, silently 
sending out signals to the other men that she was off limits, "General, 
I would like to introduce you to my wife, Lady Dana Mulder. Dana 
darling, this is General Marchand."
She held out her hand and he kissed it, holding hers until Mulder glared 
at him. Gently, he released it, "This is Captain Dupuis..."
The Captain was immediately at her side, kissing her hand and smiling 
charmingly. Mulder was starting to get frustrated... "Gentlemen, my wife 
is exhausted and I was hoping that we could delay business until 
tomorrow..."
The Captain had shinning eyes, "Eager to get you wife to the bed 
chamber, aren't you?" He asked in French, assuming that Dana could not 
hear them for she and the General were consumed by their conversation 
about Paris.
Mulder worked his jaw, but kept his calm face, "What would you do if you 
were in my position, mon capitain?"
"I'd get rid of the guests and drag her upstairs to the bed." The 
Captain smirked, "Does she please you in the bed? From the looks of her, 
she most likely does..
Mulder glared, "Sir, it would be greatly appreciated if you did not 
speak of my wife in such a manner-"
The General cut into the conversation, "Lady Mulder, we shall leave you 
to rest, you've had a long journey. We will return in the morning. Good 
night, mes amies." He took the Captain and they were escorted to the 
door.
Dana gritted her teeth, "That pig! How dare he speak of me that way!" 
She was fuming.
"The General?" Mulder questioned.
"No, that captain! Do I please you in the bed, what kind of question is 
that? I can't believe it!" She almost tore the handkerchief in her hand.
Mulder took her arm, "Dana, calm down." He whispered.
"No, I can't! I don't see how they could talk of a lady that way! And 
what exactly did you do? You asked him what he would do if he was in 
YOUR position! Pigs, all of you!" She turned on her heels and sped up 
the stairs, still fuming.
Mulder raced after her, but she bolted the chamber door behind her. 
"Dana!" He pounded.
"I'm going to sleep, my lord, I shall see you in the morning."
Mulder shook the handle of the door, "Oh, please Dana! I'm not asking 
much, give me a chance to apologize to you properly!"
She door flew open and she stood there, her hair messed and her hands in 
small fists, "What do you want?"
Mulder pushed his way past her, into the room and he locked it behind 
her. "Dana, I am sorry for offending you, but I had to make them think 
that everything was normal." He whispered.
"Do you usually treat your women with such disrespect?" Dana snapped at 
him.
He took her by the shoulders and shook her, "I've never had a wife 
before!"
She pulled back, "I am not your wife." She hissed.
He closed his eyes, "Dana... we must play our roles. You are in France, 
Dupuis wanted is a crude man and lacks some manners. Men such as the 
Captain will not treat you with respect unless they want you in their 
bed, but behind your back, they will talk about women as if they were 
objects. I fear that Captain Dupuis does want you in his bed, be careful 
around him."
She bit her lower lip, "Damn the man."
"Shh, go to sleep now, you need your rest." He turned around and was 
about to leave the room. "Dana?"
"Yes?"
"Nothing.... forget it. I shall see you in the morning."

 Dupuis burst into fits of laughter, "Did you see how angry 
he was?"
"Do shut up, Captain Dupuis, you are not helping anyone by making Mulder 
angry." The General crossed his arms over his chest as the carriage 
bounced back towards the Palais Royale. "Sir, is she not a belle?"
The General had a faint smile on his lips, "Yes, she is very beautiful. 
I do not blame Mulder for being possessive."

End of 1/?
Send all feedback to powder_puff@hotmail.com

Subject Life Times Secrets All Around 2/?

 Dana woke the next morning, Shana quickly helped her dress. 
"My lady, did you 'ere dat there is a French General in this house?"
"General Marchand, correct? Well... I suppose I'll have to go greet 
him."
"Actually, my lady, the Lord told me to tell 'ya that you are to stay in 
your room until they have left."
Dana looked down at her maid, "He said WHAT? Stay out of sight until 
they leave? No, that is just preposterous. Hand me my sash, Shana."
The maid did as told and watched her mistress head for the door, "My 
lady, I think it is best that 'ya do what da Lord tells 'ya. I don't 
want 'ya gettin' in any trouble, eh?"
She turned back to the maid, "Oh, please, Shana, don't give me that. I 
will be back in a bit. You're free to go." Dana checked her image in the 
mirror one final time before gliding down the long stair case. She met 
one of the servants at the bottom, "Good morning, Lady Mulder."
"Merci, bon journee. Have you seen my husband?"
"In the library, my lady, but he is with some guests from the Grand 
Army, I do not suggest you interrupt them."
She smiled sweetly, "I'll just say hello quickly and be about my 
business." She quickly found the library and listened carefully through 
the door.
"Have you the plans I questioned you about, Mulder?"
"Oui, mon General. I was hoping that I could hand them over to you last 
night, but my wife was.... in the way."
"She does not know what you do for a living?" The General had a hint of 
laughter in his voice.
"Sir, she does know, but I do not believe that she had fully 
comprehended the situation. I prefer to keep her innocent and in the 
dark... she is faithful to her country, Sir, but she is also faithful to 
her husband. She did not want to come here, she fought me like Hell to 
stay in England... and I taught her a lesson."
Dana decided she should come in now, just to shut Mulder up and stop 
making her sound as if she was a strumpet. "Bon matin." She said 
perfectly in French.
The General was up on his feet, "Lady Mulder, Bonne Journee, comment 
allez vous?"
"Ca va bien, merci. Et vous?"
"Bien, bien."
Mulder gritted his teeth, "Dana, good morning, what are you doing here?"
She smiled sweetly, "Sir, I am in search of something to read. I did not 
know that you were entertaining company... I shall leave-"
"No, do stay, Lady Mulder. Please, I insist."
Mulder wasn't about to shoo Dana out when the General had taken such an 
interest, "Have some tea, Dana."
She grinned at him and sat down on the sofa next to her husband, he took 
her hand into his. "Mulder, do you know of General Tavernier?" The 
General leaned back, but he didn't really take his eyes off Dana.
Mulder thought for a second, "Yes, Sir, Jean-Claude Tavernier is very 
well known in the army."
"Mulder, I believe that you have a great future with us, but if you wish 
to be known, you must meet Travernier. He is having a large gathering at 
his chateau and he is looking forward to meeting you."
Mulder's heart almost stopped, "Sir, I look forward to it."
The General handed him an invitation, "I look forward to seeing you and 
Lady Mulder attend. Good day, Lady Mulder, I hope you enjoy our 
country."
She bowed lightly, "Thank you, Sir. Good bye."
He kissed her hand, shook Mulder and a servant saw him off. Mulder 
collapsed into a chair, "God... do you know what this means?"
She sat beside him, "You're going to be advancing. Imagine what you 
could learn hanging about General Travenier."
"You know of him?"
"Mulder, he is only one of the most important men in the French army." 
She said, "They trained me well when I was in England." She added with a 
whisper.
He smiled faintly, "Come dear wife, I assume you haven't had a 
breakfast."
He took her arm and led her to the dinning hall, "Mulder?" She asked 
lightly.
"Yes?"
"Are you ever scared? I mean... when you're in France?"
"Of course... I'm scared when I am in England. Perhaps I should move to 
Spain!" He joked.
She rolled her eyes, "I'm serious."
"It's a dangerous business, and I still believe it is no place for a 
Lady and I will never forgive Skinner and Carrings for doing this to 
you... but now I'm scared for you as well as myself."

 Dana gathered her skirts as she raced down the stairs. Her 
husband was no where to be seen, and all the servants were busy working, 
so the lack of conversation was maddening. As she turned a corner, a 
blue ball hit her foot. Looking down at it curiously, she picked it up, 
examing it in the light. Written on the ball with golden letters were 
the words, "Jean-Paul." A small boy peered at her from behind the 
banister, "Wh- who are you?" He asked shyly.
She raised an eye brow, "I am the lady of this house, Lady Mulder. And 
you are you, might I ask?"
"Jean-Paul Falon.... my mother is the house keeper here." 
"Your mother is the house keeper, hum? Is she Marie-Claire?"
"Yes, that is her."
Dana tossed the ball in her hands, "Well... would this be your ball?"
"Yes, my best friend gave it to me." He shyly ran his fingers through 
his blond hair.
"Your best friend, and who would that be?" Dana was starving for 
conversation and this boy was an adorable child.
"My best friend is Lord Mulder, madame."
Dana dropped the ball, surprised. "My husband? Is your best friend? 
My... I can't blame him, though, you are a darling boy." Dana patted his 
head.
The blue ball rolled down the hall and hit the black boots of Mulder, 
who was taking off his cloak, "Dana... what are you doing?"
She smiled at him, "I met your friend, Jean-Paul."
Mulder handed the boy his ball, ruffling his hair, "How are you, 
Jean-Paul? I haven't seen you around for days, what is the latest in the 
village?"
Jean-Paul seemed eager to give the report, "There is a new school 
teacher, Mademoiselle Moreau. She is very mean, none of the children 
like her."
Mulder turned to Dana, "Jean-Paul is my magistrate of the village."
Jean -Paul grinned proudly, "Monsieur Mulder, when was it that you got 
married? Where?"
Mulder took the boy's hand, leading him and Dana into the library, "Dana 
and I were married a month ago, in a church in England. Not far from 
London, actually. I met her at a ball..."
A sad look came over Mulder's face, and Dana could feel it also. 
Perhaps, in another time, things for them could have worked out that 
way. But there was a war going on, and appearances must be kept up. 
Jean-Paul turned to Dana, "I am sure we will become great friend, Madame 
Mulder!"
She shook his small white hand, "Like wise, Jean-Paul."
"JEAN-PAUL!" The house keeper cried from the hall way, "Why are you 
bothering the master and his wife? Shoo! Out of here."
Jean-Paul waved good bye to Mulder and Dana, then followed his mother 
outside. 
Dana sat down at the desk, in his chair and he pretended to be annoyed. 
"So, Mulder, you're only friends are children?"
"My greatest friends are children." He smiled.
"It's sweet, I get the impression that he doesn't have very many 
friends."
"Jean-Paul is smarter than the other children, he will become something 
great... he never had much in common with them. I believe Jean-Paul is a 
genius."
Dana leaned forward, "I would have never imagined that you would be such 
great friends with a boy like Jean-Paul."
Mulder looked up at the ceiling, "I do not like ALL children, ever now 
and then I run into a brat."
She nodded, "I do not like all children either. Jean-Paul, though, is a 
sweet child. How did you meet him?"
"His father left him and his mother, I heard of them through a friend in 
the village... I decided that she needed work, so I offered her a 
position here. She brought Jean-Paul along with her, back then he was a 
child of three perhaps."
Dana stood up, patting his shoulder, "You're a good man, Mulder. You 
never cease to amaze me."

 She was to be dressed in a green gown, her hair in curls as 
usual and her face powdered and done with blush. As she was getting 
ready for the gathering at the chateau, a knock interrupted her acts. 
"Who is there?" Shana called, pulling out her Lady's dress.
"It is Lord Mulder." He opened the door. Dana quickly grabbed the dress 
to cover herself, she was wearing a thin chemise. "Shana, leave please." 
He said sternly.
Shana bowed her head and retreated through the door, Dana wished she 
could call her back. Her heart pounded and dreaded what Mulder wanted. 
He quickly handed her a robe, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to invade your 
privacy so, the servants were questioning why we didn't act as husband 
and wife.... I'm sorry."
She put the robe on, fastening the front, "My Lord, what is it that you 
want!" Her face was bright red.
He sat on the bed, positioning his elbows on his knees, "I was 
wondering... have you reported?"
"Yes, Sir, I gave my letters to the contact and went about my business. 
Why?"
"Just wondering, this came for you and I had to read it... I want you to 
explain this." He handed her a torn envelope.
She took it from him, quickly skipping down to the signature at the 
bottom. 'Eric Saulnier.'
"That is a French name.... and I would like to know why this was sent to 
you." His voice was rising and she was forced to take a step back as he 
approached her.
"Give me a moment." She scanned the letter.

 Dearest Dana,

 I hope this letter finds you well and in good health, my heart broke 
to hear that you had arrived in France... why could you not stay in 
England where you were safe? I also hear that you have taken a husband, 
why? I wish to see you soon, Dana, I want to take you home. France is 
not a place for an English woman, especially not you. I know how you 
despise that I worry so much, but I fear for your safety every second. 
The business you are in is no business for a girl, and I don't give a 
damn what you think, I'm going to get you home.
General Marchand is always talking about you... and Dupuis is bragging 
about how he will have you in his bed. Leave now, Dana, I just want to 
protect you. Please meet me at the Reine Cafe tomorrow at noon. There is 
much we have to discuss.

With great love,

 Eric Saulnier.

Her heart plummeted to her feet as she let the letter fall to the floor, 
"Oh, my God."
Mulder remained with his hands crossed over his chest, "HOW do you know 
him, Dana? I believe that he is a Captain in the French Army. How on 
earth do you know a captain in the French army?" His voice remained low, 
but the anger was obvious.
She looked up at him, "I can't believe that you opened it without my 
permission. You say that you don't want to invade my privacy! No one 
forced you to open the letter!"
He took her by her arms, shaking her, "Tell me now, how do you know him? 
I don't wish to question your trust, not you Dana!"
She pulled back, falling onto the bed, "I met him two years ago, they 
brought me to Paris for final training. He aided me on my first mission 
when I was... kidnapped and taken to a brothel near the edge of Paris. 
The Frenchmen who took me actually sold me! It had nothing to do with 
the army, but Carrings left me for dead. Eric helped me escape 
before..... anything could happen to me." She blushed crimson.
Mulder frowned, "Why- why is it that he writes to you now?"
"He means well, Mulder, he does really! He wants me to go home. He never 
agreed with this line of work! How could he? I doubt he wants all that 
trouble he went through to save me to be for nothing."
"Perhaps I should let you go with him..." Mulder said aloud, thinking.
"No! You can't! I won't go. I came here to full fill my promises to 
Carrings and Skinner and I will not leave until I have done so."
He looked down at her, "Then you won't be meeting him?"
"No, I won't be." She looked down at the floor.
"How do you know that you can trust him?"
"I doubt he would have saved me and released me to Carrings if he meant 
to do me harm. And he is a good man, I know he is."
"He is a Captain in the army, perhaps we could use this to our 
advantage?"
"You want me to use him? No, I will not!"
"If you wish to continue with this mission, you will do as I tell you. 
There is much we can learn from a trusted Captain."
"Mulder, please, leave him be. He has done nothing but good for me and 
he does not wish for this war to continue."
"Is he an English spy?"
"No, of course not!"
"Is he a loyal Frenchman?"
"Some what..."
"What is his agenda?"
"To stop this war, Mulder, that's all he wants! And it's what I want!"
Mulder started pacing, "Go get dressed, we shall be late for the 
gathering if you delay any longer." And with that, he sped out of the 
room.
 Mulder had his arm wrapped protectively around her waist, at 
first she was uncomfortable... but when the Frenchmen started gawking at 
her, she was glad he was at her side. A woman with black curled hair and 
brown eyes approached them. "Fox, darling, how wonderful that you were 
able to come." She kissed both his cheeks.
He smiled at her, "Jacquline, I was happy to hear that you returned to 
Paris. Jacquline DeWinter, meet my wife, Lady Dana Mulder."
Jacquline raised an eye brow, "So, the rumors are true, I was jealous to 
hear that another woman had snatched up my Fox. Well.. I can't say that 
I deserved him." She smiled sweetly at Dana. Dana had no idea how she 
was to react to this woman, <HER Fox?>
She took Mulder's arm possesively, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss 
DeWinter. How is it that you and my husband are aquatinted?" She looked 
accusingly at Mulder.
The woman just laughed, "Ah, why dwell in the past? I have missed my 
chance and he is yours now. Do excuse me, Fox, Dana. There goes my 
sister. I wish to chat with you both later." And with that she vanished 
into the crowd. "Rude woman." Dana muttered.
He looked down at her, "Jacquline is... a bit high strung."
"Really? How DO you know her?"
He gritted his teeth, "She was my mistress years ago."
"Oh, well at least she had enough sense to know not to talk about it in 
front of your wife." 
"Why are you getting so upset? You are free to have outside relations-"
He was cut off when General Marchand approached them, "Lady Mulder, it 
is a pleasure to see you." The older gentleman said, kissing her hand.
She smiled charmingly, "Like wise, General Marchand."
Mulder and the General politely chatted for a bit, Dana could take no 
more and she decided to go off on her own. She excused herself and found 
her way to the library. The gentlemen had been sorry to see her go. 

 The library was so prodigious it took her breath away. At 
the end of the library was a window that over looked a garden, the light 
from the fool moon shined on the desk in the corner. Dana examined it 
closely, "Travenier's desk!" Quickly, she raced to the door to make sure 
no one had seen her, then slowly and silently she closed it. There was 
no key, so she was unable to lock. With her heart pounding fast, Dana 
quickly walked back to the desk. Her father once had one exactly like 
this.. and if memory served her correctly, a secret compartment was 
found at the side. She slid her hand along the smooth wood, feeling 
nothing but flat surface until her fingers brushed a small lever. A 
smile spread across her face, it was so cleverly hidden it was nearly 
impossible to find! With her index finger, she pulled the small lever 
down and heard a click. A rolled up tube of paper fell to the floor 
almost silently. <Hello, what is this?> Dana picked up the tube and 
spread it out on the table. There was enough light from the candles and 
the moon for her to see. These were blue prints, dark lines outlines a 
ship, lighter ones and other pages showed the making of an engine. <THIS 
IS IT!> She couldn't believe it! It was amazing! Dana was so wrapped up 
in her discovery that she did not hear the door to the library open. 
"Lady Mulder!" A male voice gasped from the door.
She let out a small shriek and dropped the papers, "General Marchand!"
Behind him stood Captain Dupuis, a man who she assumed was General 
Travenier... and Mulder.
"I- I-.." She had suddenly loss her grasp on all language.
Mulder approached her swiftly, and before she knew what had happened, 
his hand flew hard across her cheek and she was thrown to the floor by 
the blow. 
Marchand's long legs carried him to the desk quickly and he scooped up 
the papers, "Care to explain this, Lady Mulder?"
Travenier approached Dana, "I do believe, Marchand, that you under 
estimated her."
Mulder kept his face stone cold, "My wife is a patriot, Sir, 
unfortunately, she favors those who oppose us. She will be taken care 
of-"
"Perhaps she should be punished... a public beating and whipping should 
do her some good." Dupuis was standing tall by the window, looking down 
at Dana's still form.
"And you are just the one to do it." Marchand nodded his hand, "A 
whipping then, keep her in a cell tonight... wouldn't want her running 
off."
Dana felt as if her heart was to explode, she looked up at Mulder, her 
eyes pleading for him to help her. He looked to see the tears in her 
eyes.
"General, you can't!" Mulder exclaimed.
The older men and Dupuis turned to him, "Why on Earth not?" Travenier 
asked, his voice deep and scolding.
"Sir, she is with my child, by hurting her, you hurt my heir! Please, 
wait until my heir has come into the world... then you may do with the 
wench as you wish."
Marchand looked sympathetic, "Heir, Mulder? Well then... wouldn't want 
to harm an innocent life... especially not Mulder's heir. Mulder, you 
are to keep her confined to the battlements of your estate, unless she 
is with you. If I find that she has strayed, then there will be no 
saving her, or your heir!"
Mulder pulled Dana up to her feet, "Thank you, General. I will make sure 
that she causes you no more trouble." And with that, he dragged Dana out 
of the library and called for their carriage to take them home.

 He pushed her into the carriage, he knew that the guests had 
watched him and Dana leaving. She sat silently near the window of the 
carriage, the tears spilling down her face. He could see a dark bruise 
forming where he had hit her, and his heart clenched. "Dana, are you all 
right?"
"I'm fine." She wiped her face, wincing with the pain.
He moved forward to sit beside her, the carriage was now on the dirt 
roads, "I'm sorry I hit you... I've never hit a woman before.... I 
didn't mean to hurt you."
She nodded, "And I didn't meant to get caught."
He sighed, brushing her red curls away to inspect the injury, "Dana, I 
didn't know what else to do! I tried to lighten the blow but I also had 
to make it look real. I'm sorry-"
"Please, Sir, I don't want to speak of it any further! Forget it!" Her 
voice was high and she sat up straight.
Mulder cleared his throat, "We'll have to get you out of France soon... 
before they suspect that I lied to them."
"WHERE on Earth did you get such an idea? Telling them that I was with 
child, WHAT were you thinking?"
"I was trying to save you! Do you have any idea what they will do to you 
when they find out that we're betraying them? I promise, you will get 
out of France before they can do you any harm.... I will find a way."
She crossed her arms over her chest, "I'm sorry.... I was careless."
"What was on those documents?"
"The steam boat plans, we have to go back for them!"
"Are you insane? You aren't going anywhere! If they find you any where 
outside of my estate, Dana, they'll shoot you!"
"And your unborn heir?" She snickered, "What gave you that idea?"
"What else was I to say? I always wanted an heir..." His voice trailed 
off. "It bought us some time, did it not?"
Dana examined his face in the dim light, "I... nothing."
The conversation was dropped and they rode home in silence. When they 
reached the front gate, Mulder helped her up to her chamber. "You will 
be all right. I'm not going to let them harm you." He whispered, kissing 
her forehead.
"I trust you." She answered him softly.

 Mulder and Dana were becoming quite fond of each other, she 
did trust him, with her life. God only knew what would happen to her, 
she shouldn't have been so foolish. She caused him nothing but trouble. 
Dana glanced up at the grandfather clock, her thoughts returning to Eric 
Saulnier. He could help her, she just had to find a way to contact him! 
Dana had to get out of France, an Agent who has been found out is a 
worthless agent, she learned that first thing. She gathered her skirts 
and walked out of her chamber into the main corridor, "Jean-Paul?" She 
called.
The child was no where to be seen, so she searched for him in the maid's 
chamber. He sat on the bed, playing with his leather ball, tossing it up 
and catching it. "Dame Mulder!" He stood at attention.
She smiled at him faintly, "Jean-Paul, would you do a small favor for 
me? You'll be rewarded handsomely for it."
His ears perked up, "I'll do it for free, Dame Mulder."
"No, I insist on giving you something for your good deed. Here is your 
mission." She handed him an envelope and a paper. "This is the address, 
do you know where the Rue Liberation is?"
He nodded his head, "My friend lives near there."
"Good, go to this address on Rue Liberation and give it to a man named 
Eric Saulnier. Only Eric Saulnier, understand?"
He nodded his head, "What if I can not find him?"
"If you fail to find him, return home and give me back my letter and I 
will try again later. Questions?"
He shook his head, "I understand."
She handed him the instructions and the letter, "Thank you, Jean-Paul, 
this is very important to me."
He smiled at her, said good bye and raced down the steps. "Jean-Paul, 
where are you going?" His mother questioned.
"Rue Liberation, mother! I shall return shortly." She assumed he was 
going to visit his friend, and Jean-Paul was a very intelligent boy, and 
she trusted him. "If you should fail to return in time for diner, you 
will be throttled!" She warned him.
He nodded his head and raced out the door.

 Eric Saulnier was sitting in his library going through his 
favorite books. The valet entered, holding the shoulder of a boy. 
"Monsieur Saulnier, there is a boy here to see you."
Eric's eyes fell on the stranger, he took off his glasses, "And who are 
you, young sir?"
The young boy turned to the valet, "May we speak alone, Sir?"
The valet was not amused, "Sir, you are not going to humor him, are 
you?"
"Leave, Justin." The Master ordered.
The valet gave the child a dirty look and retreated out the French 
doors. "Now, how may I help you? What is your name?"
"Jean-Paul, Sir."
"And have we met before?"
"No, Sir, but you do know a friend of mine."
Eric raised his eye brows, laughing softly, "I doubt that I know any of 
YOUR friends, Sir. Are you sure you have the correct house?"
"Are you not Eric Saulnier of the French Army?"
Eric became alert, <how does he know I am in the army?> "Who are you and 
what is your business?"
"I- I have a letter for you. From Dame Mulder."
Eric shot up to his feet, "Dana? When did you receive it?"
"She told me to be quick and deliver it only to you. As soon as she gave 
it to me I came searching for you. She wishes that you respond to her 
and hand me the letter to deliver to her."
"How is it that you know Dame Mulder?"
"She is my friend, Sir. Her husband and I are VERY close, and since she 
is his wife, I am close with her now. My mother is the house keeper of 
their home. I live there with them."
Eric took the letter opener and invaded the envelope, his eyes falling 
on Dana Scully's familiar writing.

 "Eric,

I am so sorry that I did not respond to your last letter, I did not 
want to cause anyone trouble. I was very foolish this night, I was 
caught breaking into General Travenier's desk, and they threaten a 
public beating... but Mulder and I were able to avoid that. He is all 
right, it was just I that they caught. All they know is that he married 
a very rebellious English woman. A very stupid one, also. I want to save 
Mulder from abandoning his mission for me, I beg of you, Eric, please 
help me... all is lost if I do not find my way to safety. I have a few 
months left, there are French spies all around us and I am confined to 
Mulder's estate. I need to get out of Paris, I need to get out if 
France! You are the only one I can turn to, mon ami, please respond 
quickly.

 au revoir,

 Dana
Eric sighed, closing his eyes, "Oh, my God. What are we to do?"
The young boy stood there silently, "Sir?"
"Stay here, let me write her a reply." Quickly he took out a pen and 
paper, scribbling down his response.

"Dana,

 Of course I will aid you in your escape from this disaster. Next 
time, dearest, please listen to my advice. I will always be here to help 
you and you may always depend on me. A ship is leaving for London twelve 
days from tomorrow, I will be on it and you with me. I will see what I 
can do to lighten the blow of the army, do not fear, ma chere, I will do 
everything I can and you will be returned home safely. 


A tout a l'heur,

 
Eric."

He stuffed the paper in an envelope and handed it to the child, "Give 
this only to her, understand me?" 
The boy nodded, "Yes, Sir."
"Go now, and thank you for coming so quickly."
The boy was escorted to the door by the valet and Eric collapsed into 
his chair, "What are we going to do?"

 Mulder was sitting alone in the dinning room, the fire 
crackled in the corner and the servants had all retired for the night. 
He buried his face in his hands, <Dana, what are we going to do about 
Dana?> He had promised her a safe passage back home... but in reality, 
there was no way he could assure that. He worried about her so much. He 
didn't want to leave the estate, just in case if the soldiers came for 
her while he was away. His eyes fell on the meal he had abandoned, it 
was now cold and just thinking about eating it made him ill. He had to 
see her, speak with her so they could plan a course of action. Standing 
up, he walked up the short flight of stairs to her bed chamber, he did 
not knock, just in case if she was sleeping. Taking out the key link 
from his pocket, he found the key to Dana's chamber and unlocked the 
door. The fire was burning bright and the room was pleasantly warm. Dana 
sat at the window, wearing a white night gown. A gasp escaped her when 
she saw him, "Mulder?" She immediately reached to cover herself with her 
robe.
He closed the door behind him, "Are you feeling all right?"
Her red hair was hiding her cheek, where he had hit her. "I'm fine."
In a few steps he was at her side, pulling her hair back with his hands, 
"Don't move." Once more, he inspected the damage he had inflicted upon 
her. "I'm so sorry..." He whispered.
She lowered her eyes, "Why are you here?"
"We need to discuss what we're going to do now. I'm sure they'll be 
watching you all the time, to see that you do not leave the estate. I'm 
not sure how I can get you out of here without the servants learning of 
it."
She bit her lower lip, "I want you to leave me."
"What?" He frowned.
"I'll do what I can to get out of here on my own, but I don't want your 
aid."
"You mean just leave you? Of course not, you're my partner, Dana!" He 
hissed.
She pulled back, "You can't jeopardize the mission, you know you can't. 
If you try to help me, it'll only increase their chances of catching you 
and killing you also. The worst I'll get is a public beating... you can 
tell them that I tricked you into thinking I was with child."
He took her small hands into his, "No, when Marchand gives a beating, 
you'll wish you were actually dead, Dana! It's never a simple whipping, 
it's torture that lasts for days. I know of men who have killed them 
selves to get away from it. I'd rather take your place than let you go 
through all that." He pulled her into his arms. Dana buried her face in 
his shoulder, "I can't let you do this...."
He hugged her tighter, "Please stop it, Dana. I will have a message sent 
to Skinner and he will send someone for you, and I will take care of the 
rest." He kissed her temple.
She pulled back to look at him, "What if you are captured?"
He smiled faintly, "Better me than you, Dana."
"No, the risk is too great. You are mad, Skinner will be furious that 
you threw all this hard work away to help me-"
He silenced her with a kiss, he held her close to him, cradling her head 
with his hand. "Dana," he said in a whisper, "I will die before I let 
them lay a hand on your pretty head."
She found the beating of her heart alarming, and the lack of oxygen was 
doing her no good. "Mulder-"
He kissed her again, "I've told you to call me Fox."
"F-Fox..." Suddenly she had lost her thought and had nothing to say.
He pressed his forehead against hers, "Dana, we will find a way. And I 
am willing to throw this mission out the window if it means keeping you 
out of harm's way."
She was such fool, the tears spilled down her cheeks, "Fox."
He smothered her face in kisses, "Do not cry, ma chere, it makes me 
cry." He said the words in French.
He helped her stand and led her to the bed, laying her down very gently. 
She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her night gown, but she remained 
silent.
He ran his fingers through the strands of red hair and smiled down at 
her, "We have been married almost two months and yet we have never done 
this."
She blushed, "M- Fox... I've never....b-been with any-"
He silenced her with his fingers, a smile on his face, "It's all right, 
sweeting, there is a first time for everything." He whispered into her 
ear, sending chills down her spine.

END of 2/?
All comments and feedback to powder_puff@hotmail.com

Subject Life Times Secrets All Around 3/?

 She sighed when the dawn came, a small moan escaped his 
lips, "I dread morning."
She grinned, turning over to look at him, "There is no way to avoid it."
Mulder closed his eyes, "We can spend the morning here... in bed."
Dana felt him wrap his arms around her, "Fox, the servants will notice 
that we are on good terms... we aren't supposed to be. After all, I did 
break into your superior's desk."
He kissed her shoulder, "Don't think of that anymore, Dana."
"How can I not? I've ruined everything-"
"I'll have to distract you then." He kissed her neck, her shoulders and 
her arms. She let out a whimper, "Fox, get up, we don't want to waste 
time."
There was a knock at her door and both of them jumped, "Who is it?" Dana 
called.
"Dame Mulder, it is Jean-Paul. I must speak with you." The child's voice 
sounded urgent.
Mulder quickly leapt out of the bed, getting back into his clothes that 
were thrown onto a chair. Dana slipped into her gown and wrapped the 
robe around her, she glanced back at him to see if he was ready, then 
unbolted the door. Jean-Paul stood patiently waiting.
She ushered him in, "Good morning, Jean-Paul."
"Good morning, Dame Mulder," he turned to look at Mulder standing by the 
window, "Good morning monsieur Mulder."
"Hello, Jean-Paul. How are you?" Mulder asked smiling.
"Very good, Sir." He turned back to Dana, handing her the envelope.
"What is this, Jean-Paul?" Mulder questioned, taking the envelope from 
the child's hand.
"A letter for your wife, Sir." The boy answered.
Dana bit her lower lip, "Give it to me, Fox."
Mulder ignored her and took the letter to the window, "Jean-Paul, who 
gave you this letter?"
"Monsieur-" Jean-Paul was about to reply but Dana cut him off.
"Jean-Paul, thank you so very much for giving me this letter. As 
promised, here is your reward." She handed him a few coins.
The boy smiled at her, "Thank you, Madame."
"I'll see you down stairs, Jean-Paul." Dana held the door open for him.
As soon as she heard him going down the stairs, she reached for Mulder 
and her letter.
He raised it high above his head, "Who is it from, Dana? Jean-Paul said 
it was from a monsieur."
She put her hands on her hips, "You, Sir, are invading my privacy. Give 
it to me!"
Mulder pushed her back, not hard enough to hurt her, but enough to get 
away from her. She finally gave up, sitting on the bed with her arms 
crossed, a pout on her face. While she fumed on the other side of the 
room, Mulder tore open the envelope and read the letter. When he had 
finished, he crumpled it up and was about to throw it into the fire. 
Dana grabbed his arm, "Fox, no!"
He pulled back, "What are you doing, Dana? Do you not trust me?"
She pried the letter from his strong hands and quickly crossed the room 
to get away from him. He started pacing back and forth in front of the 
fire, "How could you do this, Dana?"
After reading Eric's letter, she turned to look at him, "I did not want 
you to have to worry about me getting home. I'm taken care of now, you 
can go about your business."
He stomped towards her, taking her by the arms and holding her tight, "I 
told you, I would protect you!"
She pulled away from him, hiding her face with her hair, "Leave this 
chamber, Mulder." She went back to using his last name.
"No, I will not. I will not trust your life and your safety with a 
Frenchman! We can't trust him."
"I am not asking you to trust him, I trust him! This has nothing to do 
with you. As soon as I am gone, you can forget about me."
"I love you, Dana, I could never forget about you!" He shouted.
Both stood silent, starring at each other. The British could have 
invaded and they would not have noticed. "What did you say?" Dana 
finally asked.
"I love you." He said assertively.
The world started spinning and Dana had to sit down, "Oh, my."
He starred at her, "Dana, I would never make love to a woman that I did 
not have strong feelings for.... Dana?"
"Yes?"
"Do you not feel the same way?"
She wasn't sure what she could say, "Fox.... I have strong feelings for 
you also. When you told them that I was with your child, I wished it 
were true." She whispered.
He wrapped her up in his arms, "I can't trust Saulnier with your life, I 
have to make sure that you are returned back to England without harm."
When Dana looked up at him, she saw that he was crying, "Fox? Why do you 
shed tears?"
He shook his head, "I really don't know."
She smiled, "I do love you, Fox."
"Dana, you might actually be with my child now."
"But we've only... once." She blushed crimson.
He tilted her chin, "It only takes once."
Her heart swelled, a child... his child! <Not now, Dana! You can't have 
a child now! You're in the middle of a damn war!> Ah, the war. How 
could she forget?

 Marchand and Dupuis sat in the office of General Travenier. 
One of the servant spies they had planted in Mulder's house was waiting 
in the corner for his turn to speak. Travenier signed some papers and 
finally turned to his guests, "Now, gentlemen, how may I help you?" 
Marchand took the lead, "This is Martin Lafon, we had him positioned as 
a valet in the Mulder house... he has some information that you might 
find interesting."
Travenier turned to the man, "Yes?"
"Mon General, I have learned dat Dame Mulder is considering an escape. 
While I was cleaning her room, I found a crumpled letter on the floor, 
under her chair. Here it is. From someone named Eric."
The General read the letter, letting out a sigh, "Well then... perhaps 
we should find who this Eric is."
"Could he be French?" Dupuis asked.
"He could be anyone. We will have men waiting for them on the ship, Dame 
Mulder will be dragged to prison..."
"Mais mon General, she is with child!" Marchand interrupted on Mulder's 
behalf.
"So?"
"Sir, Mulder wants his heir, even if she is a spy for the British, the 
child is still his."
"Fine then, she will be treated well in prison until the child is born, 
but there is no way that I am trusting her outside of the bars."

 Five days had passed and Mulder knew of no way he could get 
Dana out, now he was desperate, he would have to meet with Eric 
Saulnier. "Dana, I am leaving for a bit. I suggest that you spend some 
time down stairs so the servants are not suspicious."
"Where are you going?" She questioned.
"I am taking Jean-Paul out for a bit, I will return shortly." He took 
her small frame into his arms and kissed her, "If anything should happen 
while I am gone-"
"I know what to do, Fox. I'll be fine."
He sighed and released her. Then, taking his cloak he left her chamber 
and searched for Jean-Paul.
"Monsieur, where are we going?" The boy asked as Mulder led him to the 
carriage.
When they were safely inside, Mulder turned to him, "Jean-Paul, you and 
I have been grand friends for many years now, nest-ce pas?"
He smiled brightly, "Yes, monsieur. Of course!"
"Good then. I am planning a surprise for my wife... and I am in need of 
your help."
"Really?" 
"Do you remember when you went into Dana's chamber with a letter... it 
was from a man named Eric Saulnier, is that true?"
"Yes, monsieur."
"Can you tell me where you got this letter?"
"From Saulnier himself, Sir." 
"Really, would you come with me to his home? Do you know where it is?"
"On Rue de Liberation! It is near Marc's home."
Mulder knew Jean-Paul's friend, Marc, both were about the same age. 
"Right then, will you come with me to see Saulnier?"
"Yes. Of course!"
Mulder grinned, ruffling his hair, "You are one of the truest friends a 
man could have, 
Jean-Paul."

 When the child entered his home for the second time, Eric 
Saulnier was anxious. But then... the tall man behind him came into 
view. "Monsieur Saulnier... this is Monsieur Mulder."
Eric's heart almost stopped... this was Dana's partner. "Monsieur 
Mulder, what brings you to my home?"
"This is about my wife." He said, his face grim.
"What about your wife?"
"I need to get her out of France before any harm comes to her."
"But of course, Monsieur."
"I need you to help me." He added.
Eric raised his eye brows, "Really?"
"I know that you have been sending letters to my wife... I worry about 
her very much, I don't want her in France a second longer than she has 
to be. She's been confined to my estate, getting her out will be 
difficult."
"Yes, Monsieur, it will be. Would you like me to take charge of the 
matter?"
"First of all, I want to know what your relations are with my wife."
"Monsieur, I aided her once a few years ago, when ever she is in France, 
we write to each other. I worry about her as much as you do, Mulder."
"Is that all?"
"I care for her very much, Mossier Mulder, I will do whatever it takes 
to return her to London."

 On the way home, Jean-Paul started asking questions. "Is 
Dame Mulder leaving us?"
"She has to go home, Jean-Paul."
"Why? Why are you sending her away?"
Mulder put his hand on the boy's shoulder, "It isn't safe for an English 
woman to stay here, I have to get her out of here."
"But why do you not escort her yourself?"
"I need to stay here."
"Why?"
"Jean-Paul, you know that I am a very important man in the Army, nest-ce 
pas?"
"Oui."
"Well then, you must understand that I am needed here."
"Why did you marry an English woman and bring her here if it was not 
safe?"
"I didn't think, mon petit on."
The boy frowned, "What does she say?"
"She wants to go home also."
"Did she not like her stay here? Does she not like us?"
"Jean-Paul, no one could dislike you! Now stop asking questions, we're 
home now and you have to leave for school."
The child knew the discussion was over and would press no more. Mulder, 
however, was left brooding. Perhaps one day, he and Dana would have 
children like Jean-Paul.
 A WEEK LATER Captain Dupuis and half a dozen men waited 
patiently at the docks, any moment now Dame Mulder would show and so 
would the mysterious Eric. Marchand had said to escort her to le 
confinement de femme, a prison for women. And whoever her accomplice was 
would be sent directly to Marchand. 

 Eric had spotted the men when they arrived, it wasn't hard. 
Eric Saulnier was a veteran solider, he knew when he saw military men. 
He left his carriage and searched the perimeter for Dana, she was no 
where in sight. <Damn it! The ship leaves in less than an hour!"

 He made love with her every night until the day she was to 
leave. Dana wrapped her arms around Mulder, "Fox, don't send me away 
like this."
He tilted her chin, "I want to go with you, more than anything in the 
word, but if I fail this mission, the consequences will be great. Dana, 
I will see you back in England, I swear to it."
He pressed his lips against hers and hugged her tight, "Until then, ma 
chere, I will think of you every second of every day."
She pulled away, "Promise me you'll be careful."
He grinned, "I have so much to live for now, of course I will be 
careful."
She brushed her hair away from her face, "Good bye, Fox."
"Au revoir, ma chere."

 Dana sat alone in the carriage, her thoughts driving her 
mad. Soon she would be with Eric, and he would escort her home to 
safety. But Fox would remain in France, in the line of fire. She sighed, 
"Damn it."
The carriage stopped near the docks and the driver helped her out. He 
found it very unusual for a woman to be traveling this late at night 
alone. "May I help you with your bags?"
"Yes, thank you."
Her eyes were kept open for Eric, and her heart was going a mile a 
minute. "Dame Mulder, if you would please accompany us." A male voice 
said harshly.
Dana whirled around to see Captain Dupuis standing tall, wearing his 
military uniform. Her eyes went wide, "What!?"
One of the soldiers grabbed her arm and dragged her to a coach, "What 
are you doing?" Dana screamed at him.
A second later the soldiers hand flew across her face in a slap, she was 
shocked. 
Dupuis snickered, "I'm sure Mulder doesn't give you enough of that. I 
can't blame him, though, wouldn't want to mar your pretty little body." 
Dupuis pushed her into the coach. She started shrieking for help, the 
driver who had accompanied her suddenly was gone. "SOMEONE HELP!"
Her hands were chained behind her back and a gag covered her mouth, 
Dupuis was too close for comfort. "Madame Mulder, I would appreciate it 
if you would shut up!"
She could feel his hot breath on her cheek and felt ill. He only smiled 
at her though the dim light, "We'll have to inform Marchand and Mulder."

 Mulder entered his superior's office, waiting patiently for 
the General to enter. When the man did finally come in, he had a frown 
on his face, "I'm glad you came, Mulder. Before we discuss what you 
wanted to, I have some news."
Mulder fought for control over his beating heart, "News?"
"Your wife was just discovered at the docks. You have been here with 
General Travenier the whole time, so there is no way you could have 
known she was out of the house. I'm sorry, mon ami."
"What are you going to do with her?" Mulder tried to keep his voice 
cold.
"Prison."
"BUT SIR! I have told you, she is with my child!"
"We will treat her well, Mulder, she will just be supervised at all 
times. She had an accomplice, she never found him. I am afraid that your 
wife has been having an affair with a mystery man named Eric. The Heir 
might not even be yours."
Mulder's heart plummeted to his feet, <DAMN IT!> "You can still not kill 
an innocent life."
"I said I will not harm her until the child has come into the world, you 
have my word."

END of part 3/?

Subject Life Times Secrets All Around 4/?

 Dana was led into a hall way by the guard dressed in the 
uniform of the French Army. He looked down at her, "Madame." He held the 
door of her new home open to her.
She stepped inside, biting her lips. The room looked like any other room 
of any chamber in Mulder's Estate. The curtains were blue silk, a canopy 
bed waited for her and there was a Persian rug on the floor. On the 
other side of the room was a small desk and candles were set all around. 
The guard cleared his throat, "Dame Mulder, you are confined to this 
room. You will not be provided with a maid, so please do not ask for 
one. You will leave this chamber only when the General allows it.... 
which shouldn't be too often."
Dana turned to the guard, "I'd like to see my husband-"
"He will come for you when he has the time." The guard closed the door 
behind him and Dana heard it being bolted shut from the outside. She 
immediately raced to the window, she unhooked the latch and threw it 
open. The only thing that greeted her were bars! Her chamber was on the 
5th floor of the prison, far down below she saw a courtyard... the gates 
were near by. <So close, yet so far!> Dana started cursing as she paced 
the room like a caged animal. Mulder? What was Mulder going to do? What 
would they do with her when they realized she wasn't with child? She 
couldn't take it anymore, she threw herself onto the bed and let the 
river of tears flow down her cheeks. She had failed miserably, she 
wasn't meant for this. 

 Mulder looked the guard in the eye, "I would like to see 
Dame Mulder."
The guard raised an eye brow, "Does the General know, Sir?"
"Let me in now to see her or-"
The guard, not waiting for Mulder to finish his threat, handed the man 
the key, "Major, I can only allow it for a moment."
Mulder was satisfied with the guard's flexibility and entered Dana's 
room. He was surprised that it wasn't an average prison cell.... but 
they had given her special treatment, she was the wife of a Major and 
she was with child. After he closed the door Dana threw herself into his 
arms, "Fox! Oh, God."
He wrapped his arms around her, "Shh, don't cry, love."
She pulled away from him, "Fox, what are we going to do?"
His face became serious, "Dana, I don't know what the hell you were 
thinking!" He raised his voice.
She winced, then it dawned on her... he was acting for the spies. 
"I will not betray England, Fox!"
"Don't call me Fox! Major Mulder to you!"
"Well, Major, I don't think you could blame me for doing what I did... 
for my country."
Mulder put his hand on her cheek, "As soon as my heir is born, we'll 
have no need for you."
She remained silent, not knowing what to say. She looked up at him, her 
eyes pleading for help. "Don't worry, sweeting, I'll do anything to stop 
them." He whispered.
She wiped her tears from her eyes before he could spot them, the two 
just starred at each other. "Major?" She asked, her voice quivering.
"What?"
"Didn't you have any feelings for me?"
"Of course not." He mouthed the words 'I love you.'
Dana's lip quivered, she wrapped her arms around him, "Me, too." She 
whispered.
He stroked her hair, "This is my fault." He whispered to her.
"No. It's mine."
He pulled away, "I should have found another way, darling, I'm sorry." 
His voice was now barely above a whisper.
"No time for being sorry, Fox."
He kissed her on her lips, "I love you, Dana, I'll get you out of here 
or die in the attempt."
"I'm not worth losing a life over-"
"I won't hear it."
A knock on the door caused them to jump apart, the guard poked his head 
in, "Major, I'm sorry, but you must go now. The general is waiting for 
you."
Mulder nodded, he looked once more at Dana's tear stained face and 
followed the guard out. He was led into a small office, where Marchand 
and the Warden waited for him. "I thank you, Sir, for giving her good 
living quarters."
"I'm not a cruel man, Mulder, although she did deserve one of the 
dungeon cells... she is your wife and I will treat her well. Dupuis has 
started an investigation to find this mystery man, Eric, do you have any 
clue as to who he may be?"
"I really have no idea, Sir. I doubt that my wife was having an affair, 
we weren't here long enough for her to have one. She barely associated 
with people outside of the army circles... I believe that Eric might be 
an alias."
"Possible, if so, we'll never find the bastard." Marchand mused.
"True."
"We could interrogate your wife some more-"
"She won't reveal the information, Sir, and I'd like to relive her of 
stress... who knows what she might do to the child just to spite me."
"You fear for your child, Mulder?" Marchand seemed curious.
"My heir is all that matters."
"You'll be a good father, Mulder. If your wife says anything-"
"She won't, Sir."
"But if she does, you will tell us, nest-ce pas?"
"Of course." Mulder replied.
The two men parted and Mulder was escorted out of the prison gates and 
he rode his carriage home to his estate. He had sent a letter to his 
contact, a man by the name of Byers, pleading for help. He was expecting 
a reply any day now, Skinner had to be informed. Mulder still had to get 
the plans from Travenier.... that task remained hanging over this head! 
<Damn it! How am I to get her out of here and accomplish my mission? I 
might have to give one up.>

 Byers examined the letter, then handed it to his companion. 
Langley, after reading it, passed it onto Frohike. The three starred at 
each other, "Damn it! I thought Scully was trained for this-" Langley 
paced in front of the fire.
Frohike sighed, "I suppose everyone makes mistakes, hers just cost a 
lot. And what do you suggest we do?"
Byers frowned, "We'll need more people. Mulder seems... desperate. 
Quick, have a message sent to Skinner and inform him of our current 
dilemma. He'll be so upset."
Langley yawned, "It just goes to show you, never trust a woman to do a 
man's job."
Byers coughed, "I have no thing against women, but I don't think a war 
is a place for Miss Scully. Damn the bastard Carrings for putting her 
there. She is too young, not even twenty!"
"They needed a young pretty thing in there to blind the Generals." 
Frohike muttered.
Langley thought for a second, "I don't understand why they put her 
there, and why she was forced to marry Mulder."
Byers explained the situation to his colleague, "You see, they wanted 
her to get to the Generals, they wouldn't suspect a pretty face. Of 
course, they wanted her to be unfaithful to her 'husband' and get 
information. There was no quick way of getting her to the top so fast, 
so they married her off to Mulder. This immediately put her into the 
General's eyes... but things didn't work out as well as they expected."
"I'll say!" Frohike poked at the fire, making the ashes and sparks fly. 
Langley stood up, "Well, when they learn that she isn't with child, 
she's dead. We must get her out by the end of two months... the General 
isn't THAT blind."
"Gentlemen, the lady could die if we should fail to extract her from the 
prison." Byers muttered.
Langley fell silent, Frohike spoke up, "We'll just have to get the girl 
out."

 Walter Skinner started tearing his desk apart, he was so 
furious! His two agents had gotten themselves into trouble, he was 
doomed! A letter had been sent to him by Byers and the news was all bad! 
He had it arranged for other agents to go down and aid them. Eric 
Saulnier was not of the English army, but he was a friend of Dana's and 
they could count on his help. Skinner had sent two other agents who were 
in Paris, Carrings, the man who had trained Dana, and Jason Harrods. 
With some luck, they would be able to get the mission accomplished with 
no lives lost. He'd hate to see any harm come to Miss Scully... Lady 
Mulder.

 Eric Saulnier was tearing papers and throwing them into the 
fire. He had asked Mulder to meet him, he was so worried about Dana. 
Mulder entered his library, escorted by the valet. "Saulnier!" He 
shouted, charging at Eric.
Eric jumped back, the valet came to his aid. "Mulder, I'm sorry! I 
didn't mean for this to happen, it's all my fault!" Eric started 
rambling.
"MY WIFE IS IN PRISON!" He shouted, "She'll be killed!"
"It's going to work out, I know it! You bought us some time with your 
story that she was pregnant... a few months at best. We'll find a way, 
Mulder."
Mulder pulled himself free of the valet's grasp, "You failed us! What 
happened!"
"They got to her first! One of the servants in your house told the 
General and they beat her there. I should have planed an escape route 
for Dana-"
"You just planned one for yourself, Saulnier! You left her, there!"
"No, I didn't! I was forced to leave of I would have died! At least with 
me on the outside, she has one more chance of making it home. I want the 
best for her, and I want to help her home. She shouldn't have been in 
this war in the first place!"
Mulder fell silent, "What will we do?"
"I have uniforms of the guards, we have our ways in... it will take some 
planning, but I know we can pull her escape off."

 Marchand entered the prison chamber, he smiled at the 
sleeping form of Dana Mulder. Without thinking, he told the guard to 
leave for a short break and he bolted the door. With silent steps, he 
made his way over to her bed and sat down beside her. Her dress was 
layered and yellow. Marchand let his hand travel up her ankle, to her 
hip. Her whole body went stiff and she sat up, "Fox!"
Marchand raised his brow, "I'm afraid that I am not your husband, Dame 
Mulder."
She pulled back from him, leaping off the bed, "What are you doing 
here?"
He crossed his arms over his chest, "I do what I feel like. I don't have 
to answer to you." He stood up and walked towards her.
Dana pulled back, "What do you want?"
"Just you, Dame Mulder." He took her hands into his. 
Dana's mind was spinning. <WHAT AM I TO DO? > She let him kiss her, she 
let him wrap his arms around her. Her heart beated a thousand beats a 
second and she was turning crimson. She had to get out of here... one 
way or another, this might just be her escape route.
 The knock on her cell door caused the General to relent. 
"WHO IS IT?" He snapped.
"Mon General, it is Captain Dupuis!"
The General started cursing the man as he went to open the door, "What 
do you want?"
"Sir, what are you doing-"
"Interrogating the witness... what is it that you want?"
"I just had some questions about..." Dana could not hear the rest of 
their conversation, but the General gave her a final glance and closed 
the door behind him. She immediately went to see if it was locked, some 
faint flicker of hope... the hope was smashed when the handle failed to 
turn. She slammed her hand against the wall, "Damn it!"

 Jean-Paul approached Mulder, "Monsieur, where is Dame 
Mulder?"
Mulder sighed, "She's gone, Jean-Paul."
"But where?"
"She went to visit some friends. I need to speak with her maid, Shana."
Jean-Paul went to go fetch the maid that Dana had brought with her, she 
followed the boy down the steps. "Yes, Sir?"
"Shana, I'm sending you back to England."
"But why? I was havin' fun 'ere."
"It's not good for you to stay. I'll have arrangements for tomorrow, you 
will be sent to London with an escort. Pack your things, and pack some 
things for my wife."
"Is she goin' with me?"
"No, she won't be. But she will need things for where she IS going."
Shana asked no questions and followed the orders. Jean-Paul looked at 
him once more, "Is the Lady dead?"
"No, Jean-Paul! Of course not! She just... can't be here."
The child was obviously confused and curious, but Mulder refused to 
answer questions. "Will I see her again?"
Mulder sighed, "No, Jean-Paul, she isn't safe here. You know I work for 
the Grand Army?"
"Yes."
"Because of me, she isn't safe. So I'll be sending her home soon, and 
her maid Shana must go now."
Jean-Paul would have continued to ask questions but his mother called 
him, "I'm sorry, Monsieur, that he troubles you so much." The old woman 
faintly smiled.
Mulder ruffled the child's hair, "I adore this child, so does my wife... 
we enjoy his company."
Mulder thought that perhaps he and Dana could have had a little one like 
Jean-Paul. Maybe there still was a chance.

 General Travenier and his wife sat across from each other at 
tea. He handed her some cake and she refused it politely. "Melissa, why 
are you so silent?"
"I was worried about Major Mulder, his wife's betrayal and all..."
"The poor man, didn't deserve a wench like her. But he does find her a 
pretty thing, so at least he had his time."
"I heard she was with child." Melissa sipped her tea.
"Where from?"
"Claire Dupuis, the Captain's sister. He was blurting it all to her and 
she started spreading the gossip."
"Damn it, that woman never can shut up!" Travenier seemed irritated.
"Darling, if she is with child, what are you going to do with her?" 
Melissa questioned.
"Nothing at this point in time. Marchand seems to feel that the owes 
Mulder something, so he lets Dana Mulder live until the child is born. 
She has very fine quarters on the 5th from of the woman's prison and is 
treated like a queen there. Of course, visits are limited. Did you ever 
meet Mulder's wife?"
"Yes, once at the last social gathering. Briefly, she seemed very shy."
"Well, the woman has spunk. She broke into my desk and ruined 
everything. I had to have everything moved out."
"What did she get into?" Melissa asked innocently.
"Steam boat papers, nothing of your interests, sweetheart." He wiped his 
mouth with a napkin.
"You did move them, though, right?"
"Of course."
"Where to?" 
"A vault in my study... why are you asking, Melissa?"
"Oh, just making conversation." She put on a blank face and starred down 
at the tea cup as if it would reveal to her the mysteries of the 
universe.
He raised his brow, a smile spread across his face, "I'll see you for 
dinner, love, until then."
He put his hand on her cheek and kissed her mouth, then departed for the 
carriage. She quickly sat up and left the breakfast room, rushing to her 
chamber. <My sister is alive! Thank you, God! Thank you so much for 
bringing her to me!> 

END of 4/?



Subject Life Times Secrets All Around 5/?


 Three days passed and Dana was starting to feel ill. She 
was constantly dizzy, nausea over whelmed her and by the third day, she 
failed to muster the courage to lift herself out of bed. The guard was 
alarmed and called for a doctor. She opened her eyes to see an old man 
standing beside her, "Dame Mulder, I am Doctor Michael Chante. I heard 
that you aren't feeling well."
The man had a sweet French accent and Dana lifted herself up, "Does my 
husband know about your visit?"
"Je ne sais pas. It was up to the General to tell him, there is no way 
for me to know if your husband was informed of your condition. Due to 
the pregnancy, the General is a bit worried."
Dana's heart leaped, <He'll find out the truth and I'll be killed!>
"Sir, I am in excellent condition, I don't need a doctor." She tried to 
prove it to him by standing up and walking towards the window. The old 
man caught her arm when she stumbled, "Madame, sit down, please. You are 
for sure not well."
She yanked her arm away, "Leave me be."
He took her hands and pushed her into a seat. "Sit still and let me 
examine you."
Dana fought like a hell cat to avoid the examination, but it was to no 
avail, he would continue with the examination.

 Mulder missed her so, he felt as if his heart would burst. 
He cleared the visit with the guard, and made his way to his wife's 
cell. When Mulder put his hand on the handle, the chamber door flew 
open, and an old man stood on the other side. "Who are you?" Mulder 
asked.
"Doctor Chante, and you, Sir?"
"Major Mulder."
"Ah, monsieur, it is a pleasure to meet you. Please, I'd like to speak 
with you for a moment."
"But my wife-" Mulder reached for the door again.
"The belle is sleeping, Sir, she isn't going any where." Chante had the 
guard lock the door to Dana's chamber and he led Mulder out into a stone 
corridor. "I was informed that your wife was very ill... Captain Dupuis 
called for me."
"My wife is ill?"
"I just examined her, and I was worried about the pregnancy-"
Mulder almost died, a doctor had examined her! What had he learned? What 
would they do?
"Monsieur, are you listening?" The doctor asked.
"Yes, Sir." Mulder could feel the sweat forming on his brow.
"The lady really has nothing to worry about, she hasn't been pregnant 
for long, I don't think. But she is for sure pregnant, the sickness is 
proof of that. If she wasn't getting sick, I'd think she was faking it."
Mulder almost smiled, Dana was a genius! "Thank you doctor for your 
time."
"It was no trouble, Monsieur." 
Mulder had the guard unlock Dana's door and he quickly slipped inside. 
She was sprawled out on the bed, her eyes open but she remained 
motionless.
"Dana?" Mulder moved towards her.
She looked at him, "Fox!"
He climbed onto the bed beside her, laying down next to her, "You are a 
genius, Dana, a true genius."
"Pardon?" She seemed flummoxed.
"Faking illness to convince the General and the doctor. A stroke of 
genius, Dana." Mulder whispered.
She sighed, covering her face with her hands, "I did not fake it, Fox."
"Dana, you can stop now, no one is listening-"
"I didn't fake it, I really was ill."
"Oh?"
"Fox, I haven't had my menses this month...." She whispered very softly.
Mulder's heart just stopped, "WHAT!"
She covered his mouth with her hand, "Shh! You heard what I said, I'm 
sorry. I never meant for this to happen- it's a big mistake." A tear 
escaped her lashes and slipped down her cheek.
Mulder pulled back, "You really are with child?" His voice was barely 
audible.
"I think so." 
Fox Mulder's world started spinning and he fell back on the bed, "Oh, 
God."
"I want you to know it's not entirely my fault!" She informed him.
"No, Dana, of course not! It's mine. I'm sorry, love, I'm sorry this 
happened now of all times!" He wrapped her in his arms and hugged her 
tight. "It just figures that the only time we made love was the time you 
got pregnant."
"Perhaps... it might be a good thing." Dana whispered.
"What?"
"I really am with child, so we don't need to worry, we have plenty of 
time now! Nine months."
"I still want to get you out of here by the end of this month. I've 
summoned help, just stay well and everything will work itself out."
She nodded, resting her head on his chest, "Stay with me tonight, Fox.
He stroked her hair, "I want to, so very much... but it isn't allowed."
As if to emphasize his point, the guard pounded on the door, "Major, I'm 
sorry but the time is up."
Mulder kissed his wife one last time, "Stay well, love."
Dana nodded, "You also."
He pulled himself off the bed and walked to the door, stepping out into 
the corridor, leaving her alone again in her cell. She rested her hand 
on her abdomen, where her baby was, "My God, what will we do, little 
one?" She asked her unborn child.


 Never let it be said that Byers was a stupid man. He 
contacted Eric Saulnier and together the two started plotting. Eric 
sipped his coffee in the cafe, "Well, what do you suggest we do, 
Monsieur Byers?"
"First of all, you said you had guard uniforms stored away?"
"Yes, and please don't ask how I came into possession of them." The man 
smiled faintly and took a drink of his coffee.
Byers almost grinned, "Well, I won't. It's a simple plan, really. 
Frohike has a small home in the outskirts of Paris, we can hide Miss 
Scully there. Since Mulder is almost always stalked by spies, he 
shouldn't be visiting her."
"How are we to get her out?" Eric questioned.
"A man named Carrings and another named Harrods are on their way to 
Paris now to aid in the escape. We'll play the guards, and since you are 
a French Captain, you will have the guards switched, I don't care how 
you do it as long as it's done. But please, minimum violence."
"But of course." Eric replied.
"After you have the guards switched so that one of our agents is in 
position, you run down to the carriage waiting below and help if there 
are any problems, say if we get caught!"
Eric nodded, following the plan easily.
"Dana Scully will be brought down by our fake guard, placed in the 
carriage and will be escorted by me to Frohike's home. We must do this 
in two days, because a ship for England leaves in three days, and there 
won't be another for weeks!"
"How do you know this?" Eric asked.
"I know, I have many friends." Byers said mysteriously.
Eric asked no questions because he had asked Byers to do the same. 
"Sounds simple enough, but we need a back up plan in case if we should 
fail."
Byers discreetly looked around at the people around him, he handed him a 
paper map of the prison, "My agent will know of a secret passage, so 
there is no way that they can be caught in the prison, and if by any 
chance they do get caught... a weapon is the only way out of it."
Eric sighed, "I know that."
"If the carriage should be spotted, they'll be following it. The driver 
will lead them into the woods, where an identical carriage will appear. 
They will follow the identical carriage, stop it, and find the wrong 
passengers, in the mean time, Dana will be able to escape to the house."
Eric couldn't help but grin, "Monsieur, you are a genius! Brilliant 
idea!"
Byers nodded, being humble, "Now let us see if we can pull it off."
"May God be with us." Eric muttered.
"May God be with us." Byers repeated.

 Mulder felt as if the world was turning much too fast for 
him! <Dana is with my child! Oh, God!> He sat alone in his dinning room, 
the servants coming and going, asking if he required anything and Mulder 
would only send them away. Byers and Langley had informed him of the 
plan to get Dana home, now Mulder had to get the plans from Travenier. 
His Dana was taken care of, they said that they didn't need him. "But 
why not? You have hardly any men-" Mulder had started to protest.
Byers cut him off, "We have Agents coming in from Nates. You have 
nothing to worry about, trust us, Mulder. There is no way this can go 
wrong. You finish your mission, we will finish ours. You and Miss Scully 
will see each other again in London!"
Mulder had sighed, "If any harm comes to her-"
"Mulder, I never fail." Byers informed him.
 Mulder still couldn't help but worry about her. He hadn't 
told anyone that she was with child, except the French army already 
thought she was! Mulder buried his head in his hands, "Damn it, damn it, 
damn it!"
Mulder was wallowing in his self pity and decided he needed sleep. Time 
to end the day, Dana would be free, soon.

 Dana was some where between sleep and dreams when the door 
to her cell was opened. A woman with red hair and pale skin entered, 
wearing a very expensive blue dress. "Dana?" The woman whispered.
She roused herself, "Hum?"
"Dana, wake up, now!" The woman hissed.
She sat up her bed and looked at the woman, she looked familiar, they 
had met at a party... but Dana failed to remember the woman's name. 
"Hello?"
She smiled and fell to her knees besides Dana, "It's me, Dana."
"I know we've met... but I don't remember your name."
"It is me, Melissa."
"Melissa who?"
"Melissa Scully, darling, Melissa Scully."
Dana frowned, "My sister? How dare you!" Dana almost lunged at the 
woman.
"I swear to you it's me. I can prove it!"
"Anyone can get information on my sister, who are you?"
"Melissa. I can prove it to you."
"How?" Dana crossed her arms over her chest, "There is no information 
that you can give me that would not be in official records!"
"When you were eight years old, you had a favorite doll named Agatha, 
she had red hair like us and you said she was your little sister!"
Dana's mind was shocked. It was like swimming in warm water and it 
suddenly froze. "You know about Agatha?"
"You taught Charles how to play chess. I taught you how to play, and 
father taught me how to play!"
This information was accurate, and Dana could feel her blood rushing.
"You used to have a dog that you called 'cat' for some strange reason. 
The dog ran away two weeks after you found him."
Dana closed her eyes, "Oh, God."
Melissa reached for her hand, "Dana, it's really me."
"What happened to you?" She asked in a whisper.
Melissa lowered her eyes, "When the spies came for mother and father, 
they took me to an orphanage.... I was taken into the home of a woman 
and she raised me... two years ago I married General Travenier."
"GENERAL TRAVENIER! How could you, Melissa!"
"I had no choice, Dana, I'm sorry-"
"What happened to Charles and William?"
She sighed, "They were shipped to Paris and then returned to England to 
fend for themselves. I was able to keep track of Charles until last 
year... he just stopped writing to me. I fear the worst." The tears 
gathered in her eyes and spilled over.
Dana wrapped her arms around her sister, "It took me so long to cope 
with the loss of my family. Did you know where I was?"
"I had no idea, what happened to you, Dana?"
"I was taken in by a man named Carrings, he trained me."
"Trained you for what?"
"To be a spy." She whispered her response.
Melissa's eyes went wide, "Dana, what were you doing? Is that why you 
are in France?"
She nodded, "I have a mission to complete. How did you know it was I, 
you haven't seen me since I was a child!"
"They said the name Dana Scully, the General and his friends were 
talking in the office about Major Mulder and you. They said your maiden 
name was Scully. What were you doing marrying a French Major?"
"I had to."
"Did Carrings make you?"
"Yes."
"Dana, you poor thing."
"You may not love your husband, Melissa, but I love mine."
"You can honestly say you love Mulder?"
"Very honestly."
"Well then... so be it."
"Come to England with me, Melissa. You are an English woman at heart and 
do not belong on the side of the enemy."
"I'd love to go home, but I'm married to a Frenchman."
"Have the marriage annulled! He is an enemy!"
"The enemy has taken very good care of me, he nursed me back to health 
when I was ill, he delivered my children when I was pregnant, he 
supported-"
"CHILDREN?"
"A daughter, named Margaret after mother."
Dana sighed, falling onto her pillows, "Are you sure that mother is 
dead?"
"Positive, I saw her buried when I was thirteen."
Dana moaned, "Do you think we could find Charles and William ever 
again?"
"Last I heard from Charles, he and William were together in London."
"I live in London." Dana whispered. Oh, so close to her brothers and she 
never knew! Her poor brothers, what had happened to them? Where were 
they? 
Melissa sat up, "I don't know what to do."
Dana grabbed her sister's arm, "Melissa, they're going to kill them 
after the child is born! I can't stay here! I had a mission to 
complete."
"And what was that mission, girl?" Melissa questioned.
"Finding plans for the damned steam boats!"
"I knew it." Melissa sighed.
" I can't go home without them!"
"Dana, you're with child, I'm sure they'll understand."
"No, I won't go without them."
"Fine then, I'll bring them to you."
"How?" Dana sat up, her eyes full of questions.
"My husband is in possession of them, and I am going to get you out of 
here no matter what, if you won't leave without the plans, then I will 
give them to you."
"And that's it? You'll just hand them over to me?"
"I want this war to end, I am on no one's side. I want to see my family 
safe. If you go back to London, perhaps you can catch word of William 
and Charles, couldn't you?"
"Since I know where to look, I can try."
"Excellent. I'll then see you tomorrow, if my husband finds that I left, 
he'll be upset."
"No, Melissa, I can't let you do this."
"Do what?"
"You can't bring the information and maps to me, my husband has a plan 
to get me out of here, make sure that he gets them."
"Well then, I'll make sure they fall into his hands, but let him know he 
can trust me."
"Of course, Melissa."
"I have to go now, I'll see you soon." She turned for the door and 
started to make her exit.
"What does Margaret look like?"
Melissa smiled, "A true Scully, red hair, blue eyes, cute nose and a 
rosebud mouth. She reminds me of you, Dana."
"I'd like to see her some day."
"I'd love for you to see her."

 Mulder woke with a start, he was bathed in sweat and the 
lack of oxygen to his brain was alarming! <A dream, only a dream...> He 
told himself. It was so real. He could hear his wife screaming and a 
child crying, his child. Mulder closed his eyes and the images were 
already starting to fade. He was so exhausted, he hadn't slept well 
since Dana was captured. <Oh, Dana, sweet Dana...> Tomorrow was the day 
of the escape. He was to wait down below in the carriage with Byers. 
Eric Saulnier knew his part and all was going to be well. God be 
willing.

 Carrings and Harrods had arrived the day before, both men 
were dressed in French guard uniforms and put into position by Eric 
Saulnier. The two British agents followed the Frenchman up the stairs of 
the prison to the fifth floor where Dana Scully was being held. The back 
stairs were made of stone and the only light in the stair well was 
coming from the torches. The French guard on duty put himself in their 
path, "Mon captain, you can not be up here at this time unless you have 
permission from a General."
Eric handed him some forged papers, "Special guards are being put in 
place, you are relieved of duty."
The guard raised his brow, "And who are you, Sir?"
"Captain Dupuis!" He snapped.
Eric was in full dress uniform, a hat over his head and the hall was so 
dark that the guard wouldn't be able to point him out anyway. When the 
guard would be questioned later, which he for sure will be, it would be 
the faithful Captain Dupuis who would be punished for the folly.
"Forgive me, Captain. Here." He handed Eric the keys to Dana's chamber 
and quickly departed as if the Captain was a tiger.
Carrings snatched the keys from Eric and shoved them into the lock, 
quickly he pushed the door open. Harrods stood guard outside the door 
while Eric ran down to the carriage to be of some assistance. Dana was 
sleeping in the bed when Carrings burst in, "DANA!" He shook her awake, 
her eyes snapped open and she shot up, "Wh-" Her face froze when she saw 
it was Carrings. The surprise in her features was obvious, but her 
rescue party was in a hurry and there was a great chance of discovery.
He wasted no time with pleasantries, he took her arm and pulled her to 
her feet.
"What's going on?" She gasped.
"You're being rescued, silly girl, now walk on your own, I can't carry 
you!" Carrings was never one for dramatic words, instead he did what had 
to be done to get her out of her chamber without falling on his face!
Harrods took her other arm and together they went down servant stairs to 
the side of the prison, where the carriage awaited them. A separate 
carriage was waiting for Carrings and Harrods to go to another 
destination. Dana was helped into the carriage by Eric, who was standing 
near by. "I knew we'd get you out, ma chere." He grinned at her.
Dana wasn't able to speak because everything was moving so fast. Eric 
quickly disappeared into his own means of transportation and was gone. 
Byers took her hand, "Miss Scully, please remain calm-"
"STOP!" A male voice shouted. A small cluster of guards came racing 
towards them. Byers lifted Dana up and sat her down. Quickly he slammed 
the door of the carriage shut and instructed Langley, the driver, to 
move on. They raced out the broken side gates and started their decent 
into the woods. The carriage was pursued by guards on horses, the sound 
of hoof beats against the ground was deafening, and the night was coming 
quickly. Langley quickly steered the carriage into the woods where the 
second carriage was waiting as planned, Frohike driving it. When the 
second carriage was in sight, in front of him, he swerved onto a 
different path and started going in another direction. The switch had 
been made so quickly and so many trees in the way that the guards on the 
horses followed Frohike, just as Byers had planned! Langley couldn't 
help but smile and he silently flattered himself about his driving. <you 
are so good!> He told himself.
They were approaching Paris and Frohike's house wasn't far. By now 
Frohike should be on his way back home, since he had been allowed to 
take the short cut on the main roads and they were forced to take back 
roads. Later the carriage would have to be disposed of some how. Byers 
would think of something. The small house was now in view and Langley 
pulled up to the front gate. Inside the carriage was Mulder, Byers and 
Dana Scully. He let the horses rest for a bit and he went to open the 
door. Dana Scully was lying with her eyes closed and was sprawled out on 
the seat. "What happened to her?" Langley questioned.
"She swooned." Mulder sighed.
Byers frowned, "It must be the lack of food and water and the stress and 
the pregnancy."
Mulder lifted her small frame into his arms and carried her inside. 
Frohike had already arrived and watched as Mulder carried his partner 
upstairs to a sleeping chamber. He raised his brow, "He looks worried."
Langley laughed, giddy from the victory, "We did it! We did it! Now we 
must make sure that Saulnier, Carrings and Harrods made it home."
Byers laughed, "Her meeting with Carrings was a short one, too bad, he 
was her mentor."

 Mulder pushed open the door of the bed chamber they had set 
for Dana and he laid her down on the mattress. Her red locks were in her 
face and he pushed them aside. He covered her with the blankets and made 
sure she was comfortable. Then he rested beside her, wrapping her in his 
arms and resting his hand on her abdomen. <My wife and my little 
one...but this isn't the end.> He knew this crusade was far from over. 
He still had a mission to complete, and he had to get Dana home. He'd be 
lucky if the French army trusted him still, but he would deal with that 
in good time. All that mattered now was that Dana had escaped, but she 
wasn't out of danger yet. No, that would be much too easy. Obstacles lay 
ahead and time was running out and they couldn't trust many people. They 
were spies, they had broken laws and any second their lives could be 
lost to the war. <Not my child, not my Dana.> Mulder wiped his tear. 

END of 5/?
----------

Subject Life Times Secrets All Around 6/?

She woke with a feeling of warmth for the first time since she was put 
in the prison. Her eyes opened and she saw that she wasn't in her old 
cell. Quickly she sat up to find a pair of strong arms wrapped around 
her, turning her head to the left, she saw Mulder. For a brief second 
she thought that he had spent the night with her in the cell, but this 
didn't look like a prison chamber. His eyes opened and a smile spread 
across her face, "I'm glad you finally woke." He stretched his mucles.
She was in shock, "Where.... are we?"
"Safe." He replied.
Dana fell back onto the pillows, "Oh, my God."
He reached for her hand, "Do you remember anything? You escaped last 
night, we're in Frohike's house."
"Who is that?" she asked.
"A friend."
"Oh."
He rested his head on her shoulder, "Dana, are you feeling all right?"
She nodded, "Just fine, why?"
He rested his hand on her abdomen, "I can't help but worry."
"Listen, Fox, I don't need you worrying about me all the time."
He grinned, "Sorry, love, it's a hard habit to break."
There was a knock at the door and a male voice, "Mulder, is she all 
right?" Byers asked.
"She's going to be fine, would you mind having some breakfast sent up?" 
Mulder asked.
"Of course." The sound of foot steps walking down a set of stairs was 
heard.
Dana looked around, the room had a persian rug and a desk made of oak. A 
window that looked out onto a back garden and a few chairs in the 
corner. "What is your plan, Fox?" She asked.
"A ship leaves in a few days for England, Eric and I Decided that you 
must be on it, no matter what."
"But what about the mission!" She snapped.
"I'll take care of that, love, you've already been found out and Skinner 
wouldn't be too happy if you got yourself killed."
"Fox, please!"
"No, Dana, you can beg all you want but you are with child and there is 
no way you can go on in France."
"Fox, I can help you get the plans for the boats!"
"How?" he snapped.
"My sister married Travenier." 
Mulder seemed to be thinking for a second, "I thought you said she 
vanished..."
"Fox, please listen to me, the night before you came to get me, she came 
to see me."
"How do you know that she really was your sister! She could have been a 
French spy trying to get information out of you."
"She knew things that a spy wouldn't."
"Really? Dana, you must be careful, we're so close to getting you home!"
She sat up and crawled out of the huge bed, missing the warmth. "Fox, 
just stop it. I am not a helpless infant!"
He got out of the bed and took her arm, "I've had enough, you are going 
to do what I tell you to do, I don't care if you don't like it. Do you 
understand me?"
She frowned at him, "You-"
A knock at the door stopped her from finishing her sentance, "I have 
breakfast!" A perky voice called.
"That's Frohike, you just sit down at the desk. You can meet them as 
soon as you get dressed. We owe these men a great deal."
"I have to go back for my sister, Mulder!" 
He opened the door and took the tray from Frohike, thanking him and 
setting it down on the table for her. "Please eat something, you were so 
weak yesterday you couldn't even stand!"
Dana did as he told her, but with a frown on her face. He stood by and 
watched her eat every single bite, not letting her get away with leaving 
anything behind. When she finished, Mulder took her hand, "I love you, 
Dana, and I know you're upset but I think it's all for your own good." 
He kissed her mouth but she remained stone cold. "I have nothing to say 
to you." She whispered.
Mulder stood up and took the tray downstairs, leaving her alone in the 
room. She watched him go, a tear falling down her cheek, <Why won't he 
listen to me? Melissa really is here and she really will help us!>

 When Frohike and Langley saw Mulder, they handed him some 
water, "Travenier has the plans in his house, no one could find them in 
his office."
"Of course they wouldn't be there," Mulder said, "Dana already found 
them in his desk, he wouldn't just leave them there."
Byers cleared his throat, "I did some checking around, and Travenier's 
wife went to go visit Dana recently."
Mulder frowned, "Any idea why?"
"You probably should ask her." Byers said.
"She thinks that Travenier's wife is her sister..."
"But you don't trust her." Byers finished.
"Like the British made my wife a spy, I think the French could have made 
Travenier's wife a spy. It isn't too far fetched."
"What did Melissa Travenier say?" Langley asked.
"She said that she would give the steam boat plans to Dana, it could be 
a fake set of plans."
Byers nodded his head, "We can't trust her, really, she is too close 
with the enemy. What do you want to do?"
"I'll go after the plans myself, I know that they are in his house some 
where, it's the only other place he would put them."
"So what will you do?" Frohike asked.
"I'll simply break in at night... care to join me?" Mulder grinned.
The three men looked at each other, then at Mulder, "How can we help?"
Mulder leaned against the wall, "If I can count on your support, 
gentlemen, I think we can pull this off easily..."

 General Marchand and General Travenier had been furious when 
they found out that Dana Scully had escaped from the prison. "Get me the 
guard who was to be watching her!" Marchand snapped.
He was brought in, his face was pale from the fear and he looked 
nervous. He saluted Marchand, "General Marchand!"
Marchand seemed cold, "Give me your name."
"Lt. DeBlanc, General."
"DeBlanc, eh? Were you not to be on guard last night?"
"I was, Sir."
"Where was your assignment."
"I was to guard the prisoner, Dame Mulder, Sir."
"And have you heard that she escaped last night?"
"Yes, Sir."
"WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SHE ESCAPED!" 
The man jumped, "I- I received orders from the Captain to leave so he 
could put his guards in place."
"WHAT CAPTAIN?"
"Captain Dupuis, Sir. I have the orders right here." He handed Marchand 
a paper.
"Are you sure Captain Dupuis gave you this?"
"A man in full dress uniform came to me saying that he was Dupuis, and 
he ordered me to leave. I did as I was told, Sir."
Marchand scanned the letter, "What did you say to him?"
"When I told him that he wasn't allowed to see Dame Mulder, he handed me 
this order, saying it was from General Markins."
"THERE IS NO GENERAL MARKINS!" Marchand screamed.
The little man jumped, "Sir, I do not know the name of every General in 
this army! It all looked official enough for me."
Marchand crossed his arm over his chest, "You say Dupuis gave you this? 
Are you sure it was him?"
"I have never laid eyes on Captain Dupuis, Sir."
Marchand rolled his hand into a fist, "Get out of my sight, bring Dupuis 
to me."
 Dupuis stood in front of the General, "Monsieur, what is 
wrong?" He asked innocently.
Marchand started pacing in front of him, "I trust you, Dupuis, and I'd 
like to continue trusting you. Last night, Dame Mulder escaped from the 
prison."
"I heard, Sir."
"A guard was on duty, he received orders from a Captain. The orders said 
that he was to leave his post and that another guard would take over."
"Do you want me to find this captain?"
"No, the guard gave me YOUR name. Can you explain it?"
"Sir! Am I being accused!"
"You're name was the only name that the guard gave us." 
Dupuis stood dumbfounded, "I... you can't believe this lie, Sir! I have 
stood by your side for years!"
"I know. I was thinking that Dame Mulder had friends on the out side. 
Mostly likely she has friends in this army. I have no doubt that you 
were not the man who gave this order, but just for the record, mon ami, 
where were you last night?"
"With Christine, Sir." The man blushed slightly.
"Your mistress? Fine then, we'll keep that OFF the record. Bring in Lt. 
DeBlanc!"
standing by the door.
Lt. DeBlanc was brought in, "Is this the man that you say last night?" 
Marchand questioned.
"I can not tell, his hat was covering his face."
Marchand started cursing under his breath, "Everyone but Dupuis leave! 
This second!"
The other men in the room retreated into the corridor, leaving Marchand 
and Dupuis to themselves. Marchand lowered his voice, "Someone on the 
inside is working against us. Dupuis, find out who it was that gave the 
orders to have the guards replaced last night... find out who those guards 
were and bring them all to me!"
Dupuis saluted, "Oui, Mon General."

 THAT NIGHT Melissa had seen the men coming into the house. 
Her husband had been off at a meeting with General Marchand, and the 
servants had all retired to their chambers. She knew that they'd be 
coming tonight or the next night, because a ship for England left in a 
day, Dana Scully and the plans had to be on it. Melissa was a smart 
woman, it wasn't a difficult plan to figure out. Time was betraying them 
and there was no one to trust. She watched from the balcony of the 
staircase as the men slowly walked around her home, she almost laughed 
at how silly they looked! 
The heavy oak door in the front of the house was opening and the heavy 
foot steps of the General announced his arrival. She could see out of 
the corner of her eye that the four men were scattering around the 
living room, hiding behind curtains and sofas. Taking a deep breath, 
Melissa raced down the stairs to her husband. "Darling, you're home 
finally! Marchand keeps you away from me so often... I've nearly forgotten 
what you look like!"
Travenier laughed softly, "Melissa, love, I'm sorry. Things are, 
hectic."
"With your steam boat plans?" She asked loudly enough for the intruders 
in the house to hear.
The General starred at her in surprise, "How do you know so much about 
that, Melissa?"
"I know because I can hear the other General's talking of it at the 
parties and functions they all throw. Sorry, sweeting, I don't mean to 
intrude on your privacy and top secret plans." She teased him.
He took her arms, "Please, Melissa! Don't ever breath a word of it to 
anyone! Understand me?"
She nodded her head, "You can trust me, David, always. You are the 
General and my love!" She linked her arms with his, "I bet I know you 
better than anyone in the world, David Travenier. You probably keep your 
plans in the vault..."
"Melissa!" He snapped.
She rested her head on his shoulder, "Yes, I'm right. The vault in the 
office. And I bet I can guess where you hide your keys..."
He stopped walking, "Melissa."
A sweet smile and a kiss silenced him, "You keep your keys in the locked 
drawer of your desk. Am I not right?"
"You do know me well, darling, but you can't go blabbing this 
information to just anyone!"
She took his arms and started leading him upstairs, "I've missed you, 
David."
He followed her up the steps and the pair vanished into one of the bed 
chambers. Mulder and his companions came out of their hiding places 
after the room had fallen silent. Byers bit his lower lip, "I think this 
is a sign from God." He whispered.
Langley pushed him into the office of the General, "Shut up, it's luck." 
He raced towards the desk, but only to find that it was locked. Frohike 
came forward with a small pin and the only noise in the room was the 
clicking of the lock and pin, and the rapid breathing of Mulder. While 
Frohike worked on getting the key, the others worked on finding the damn 
vault. Mulder looked behind a painting of the General's mother and 
laughed, "Here it is, gentlemen. Our pot of gold. Frohike, do we have a 
key?"
Before Mulder knew it, the key was placed into his hands, "Yes we do!" 
Mulder's heart was pounded and his fear of being caught kept him from 
taking the time to glance at the plans. They were there, placed in tubes 
and labeled with the French seal.
Mulder's mouth fell open, the plans were true and for a moment he was 
filled with doubt... was this woman his enemy? Or his friend? There was no 
time to ponder the question, the four men silently raced out of the 
house through the back door and into the cold night while Melissa was 
left to deal with the General. Byers looked back at the house as they 
crossed the street, "There is always the chance that these are real..."
"If they aren't, they've found me out and it won't be safe for me, 
either." Mulder was gasping for air. His ears had become hyper sensitive 
to every noise, every creak in the house. The adrenaline was becoming 
too much for him! The driver they had hired came riding with his 
carriage and the small group got inside with the plans, deciding to go 
over them in the morning when things became clear. This could be it, or 
it could be a trap. At this point they did not know. Melissa's loyalties 
were not known, either. Was she loyal to France? England? Her sister? 
Was Dana even her real sister, or was Melissa a spy pretending to be a 
long lost sister. Mulder closed his eyes, <I need a break! I can't take 
this any longer!>

 The next morning they were sitting around the breakfast 
table and Frohike handed her the plans. "What's this?"
"Steam boat plans." Langley said proudly.
"WHERE did you get them? How?"
"We broke into the Travenier estate and took them." Byers replied, his 
smile was wide.
"Who helped you?" 
"Mulder did." Langley said.
"Melissa, too, of course. We got the plans for the steam boats last 
night, Melissa practically handed them to us."
Dana couldn't help but smile, "Didn't I tell you, Fox?" 
He bit his lower lip, "We still aren't sure that we can trust her, Dana. 
This could be a fake set of plans."
Dana looked down at the papers that were scattered all of the breakfast 
table. She looked up at Byers, "Do these look real to you, Byers?"
He leaned back in his chair, "I take liberty in calling myself an 
expert, and these look very real to me. And Melissa Travenier obviously 
knew that we were there. She gave us all the information we needed to 
get the plans. And by doing so, she put herself in danger."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?" Dana jumped up from her seat.
"She stood there in front of him confirming all the information, where 
the plans were located, where we could find the key... he'll guess it's 
her. He sounded like he was suspicious."
Dana fell into her seat, "What would they do to her?"
"Probably the same thing they were going to do to you." Frohike 
whispered.
Dana was perturbed. Her sister had made a great sacrifice for the 
mission. "Fox, we have to do something!"
"Dana, my job was to get the plans and get you home..."
"I am not leaving unless Melissa goes with me! I don't care what I have 
to give up for her passage back to England!" The woman had gone into 
hysterics and Byers, Langely and Frohike silently retreated from the 
room. Mulder took her hands into his, "Dana, don't add more stress upon 
yourself. You have a child and..."
"How could I forget that I'm with child?" She hissed at him, "You keep 
on reminding me every second of every day! Just stop it! My sister is 
what's important now, Travenier will destroy her! I can take care of 
myself but who will take care of Melissa?"
Mulder buried his face in his hands, "If I get her and ship her off to 
England, will you go home?"
"Of course."
"Dana, you can't keep on making promises and changing them. First you 
wouldn't go without completing the mission. We've done that, and now you 
won't go without Melissa!"
"Fox, if it was YOUR sister, wouldn't you stay behind for her?"
"Not if my child was at risk." He answered back.
She froze for a moment, "You aren't in my situation. I haven't seen my 
sister since I was a child! I thought she was dead! I have a chance to 
put my family back together after the French destroyed us!" Her whole 
body was shaking and she couldn't sit still. Mulder wrapped her into his 
arms, "Dana, love, I'm sorry. Let me take care of everything, please. 
All will be well if you'll just relax. This is the condition. If I make 
sure Melissa returns to England, you go home no matter what. No more 
changes in plans. Because if you change your plans again, I am dragging 
you off and I don't care if you don't like it."
His voice was stern and he seemed annoyed. She wrapped her arms around 
his shoulders and kissed his mouth, "It's a deal, Fox. I swear to it, on 
my name, if Melissa's safety is assured I will go home."

 Travenier, Marchand and Captain Dupuis walked into the 
office of Travenier's private office. "Dana Scully is still at large, 
Sir." Dupuis reported to Marchand.
The younger General sighed, "Have you spoken with Mulder?"
"He's taken a leave of absence." Dupuis answered.
Travenier raised a brow, "Really? That's odd....he never takes short 
vacations."
"It could be the stress his wife has inflicted upon him," Marchand 
suggested, "or maybe a new mistress."
"Forget that, I sympathize with him. Poor lad. We have things to 
discuss. First of all, I want our ships done soon. I was hoping to have 
the boats ready in two months if at all possible." 
"Two months! That will take some work, General Travenier." Marchand cut 
in.
The older man looked at Marchand, "Well, you'll have to inform everyone 
that they must work harder." He went to his desk to look for the key, 
but the top drawer of the desk was ajar. The expression on his face was 
cold, "Damn it." He raced to the vault, the painting had been tampered 
with and he didn't expect to find the plans inside the vault. Taking out 
his extra key which he kept secured in another room, he unlocked the 
vault to find nothing but dust. Marchand watched with concern, 
"Monsieur, what is wrong?"
"THE PLANS ARE GONE!" 
Dupuis became alarmed, "Could Dame Mulder have come back for them?"
General Travenier's hand rolled I into a fist, "Damn this whole thing to 
hell! We're ruined! They'll have our necks for this! Napoleon will 
personally come and smash our brains in! MY OWN HOME!"
"We will start an investigation!" Dupuis proclaimed bravely.
Travenier shot him a look, "No, I will investigate this on my own, I 
have a vague idea who could have done it."
"Who, General?" Dupuis asked curiously.
"I will reveal that in due time, please leave me to my work. This change 
is not to be mentioned to anyone, no one it to know that the plans are 
gone, we still have the map maker's copy."
 Melissa was sitting alone in the breakfast room, watching 
the ducks on the pond. Her husband came in, putting his hand no her 
shoulder, "I must speak with you, Melissa."
She smiled at him sweetly, "About?"
His hand on her shoulder tightened, "You will tell me the truth, do you 
understand Melissa?"
She winced, "You're hurting me!"
He was about to continue wen Margaret entered the room, "Mummy, may I 
go..."
When she saw the look on her father's face, she froze, "What's wrong, 
Mummy?"
"Margaret, go on outside and play." He said, releasing his grip on 
Melissa's shoulder.
Margaret frowned, "I wanted to go on the pond, though. Peter will take 
me..." She said, mentioning her husband's man servant.
"Good, tell Peter that you may go. Hurry along now." The General was 
becoming impatient.
She smiled sweetly and gave him a kiss on his cheek, "Bye bye, Daddy. 
Bye, Mummy." She gave Melissa's cheek a kiss.
Melissa grabbed her daughter's hand and gave her a full hug, "Be 
careful, Margaret. I love you."
Margaret nodded and quickly ran off to play. As soon as she was out of 
ear shot, the General turned back to his wife, "Margaret will be loyal 
to the French, you do know that, don't you?"
Melissa raised her head, "What are you talking about?"
He grabbed her arm, "You were becoming awfully nosy last night about my 
steam boat plans....they're gone now."
She faked shock, "Oh, no!"
His hand came hard across her face in a slap, "Stop playing games, 
Melissa! I know you took them!"
"I didn't touch them!" She said honestly, "What would I do with them?"
"That's a good question, what WOULD you do with them? Where are they?"
"I don't have them, I swear it!"
He slapped her again, causing her lip to bleed, "Stop your tall tales, 
Melissa! Who did you steel them for?"
"I did not take them!" She said firmly.
He starred at her, "Who has them, Melissa?"
"I don't know! How could you accuse me-"
Margaret entered the room again, "Mummy, where are my gloves?" She 
asked.
Melissa buried her face in her arms so that her daughter would not see 
her blood and tears, but it was too late. Margaret raced towards her 
mother, "What happened to Mummy?" She asked her father, putting her 
hands on her mother's shoulders.
Travenier lifted her up into his arms, "Come on now, Margaret, you 
wanted to play at the pond, didn't you? Peter! Come here, this instant!"
The young man named Peter entered, "Yes, Sir?"
"Take my daughter out to the pond and watch over her carefully."
"But Mummy!" Margaret insisted, reaching her arms out for Melissa.
Travenier practically pushed them out the door, when he looked back at 
Melissa, she was gone and the breakfast table remained undisturbed. 

END of 6/?
----------

Subject Life Times Secrets All Around 7/?
----------

Mulder got into his carriage and together, he and Byers made their way 
to Travenier's estate. "We'll find out if I'm on good terms with the 
General." Mulder said.
"And what if you aren't?" Byers asked.
Mulder showed him his pistol, "Then I'll have to deal with the General 
as quickly as possible."
Byers paled, "Damn it."
When the carriage slowed in front of the estate of the General, Mulder 
got out, "Try not to give anything away, will you."
"I'm an excellent actor!" Byers insisted.
Mulder laughed, "God be with us."
Together they approached the front door of the estate, the one that they 
had broken through the night before. This was a dangerous stunt to pull, 
if the General did not think well of Mulder, then someone was going to 
die. Hopefully it wouldn't be Mulder and Byers. The door was opened by a 
man servant and he recognized the Major. "Monsieur Mulder, do come in." 
He held the door open for them.
Mulder and Byers were led to the General's office, Byers became nervous. 
"We're doomed." He whispered to himself.
Mulder hit his arm, "Shut up."
The General entered, a furious look graced his face, "Major, who is 
this?"
"A man who I hired to find my wife, this is Joseph Byers. We were 
wondering if you had any leads on her."
"I have more important things to worry about than your wife, Mulder."
"Like what?" Mulder asked, wetting his lips.
"I suppose our wives came from the same litter, she betrayed me and 
France also! And once again, it had to do with the damned steam boats! 
Everyone is after them and the enemy is sending our wives in to get 
them!"
"I don't understand, Sir." Mulder acted flummoxed.
"Melissa was questioning me about the steam boat plans, I found it 
unusual... but paid no attention. This morning they were gone. And when I 
went to confront her, we got distracted by our daughter. After that, she 
just vanished. I've had everyone search the house for her, I've sent men 
into town looking for her, she's just gone!"
Mulder's heart leaped, "I'm sorry, Sir. Perhaps they were from the same 
litter." <sisters, perhaps! It's ironic, actually!>
Byers remained silent as the General confessed the whole story to 
Mulder. "Poor Margaret... her mother's a traitor." 
"Well, General, was she not British? Like my wife?"
"Yes, she was. Damn British women! We should have them all shot! I can't 
believe that they've sent women in to do men's work!"
"Exactly what I was thinking, Sir."
Mulder and Byers were led out of the house by the valet and they quickly 
got into the carriage. "She's safe, at least." Byers whispered.
"Where are we to look for her? I doubt that she'd leave without her 
daughter!" Mulder sighed.
"Are you going to go back to Frohike's?"
"No, they probably suspect me now, and I'm not going to lead them back 
to Dana. I've already risked too much by seeing her. I think that we 
should get keep our eyes on Margaret Travenier before anything else 
happens. I don't like the thought of her in that house with the 
General."
"But he's her father!" Byers protested.
"And I doubt he'd hurt her, but Melissa will come back for her girl, get 
hold of Carrings and Harrods. We'll have them take care of everything."
He nodded his head, "Good then, because if you go around doing 
everything yourself, you'll eventually get caught. You're the only man 
they have in the military right now. Skinner will be furious if we lost 
you."
"I'm glad I'm good for something." Mulder laughed.

 Skinner was starting to become anxious. His agents were due 
back in London any day now and he had recently received a letter from 
Mulder saying that they had gotten Dana out of prison and were waiting 
for the ship. <The ship leaves tonight.... And if they aren't on it, 
they'll be trapped there for another few months, and that's if they're 
lucky!> 

 "Tonight is the night that your ship leaves, Dana." Langley 
said, handing her some milk.
"Well, it doesn't look like I'm going to be on it." She insisted.
"You will be on it, if you fail to be on board when it departs, you're 
going to be in France until the end of the year." Frohike was becoming 
annoyed with her.
She glared at him, "I know all the consequences, but I will not leave 
without Melissa."
"How would you like your child to be born in France?" Langley asked.
"Never!"
"It might happen that way if you keep on acting like this!"
She shook her head, "Please, gentlemen, mind your own business!"
Frohike fell silent, and Langley decided that it was time for them to 
retreat and change the subject. "Mulder won't be coming back here, it's 
too dangerous for him."
"When will I see him again?" She asked.
"Most likely in London. This is supposed to be your final day in 
France."
"That's only if they can find Melissa in time." She reminded him.

 Melissa watched her daughter and Peter riding the horses. 
They had hired Peter to watch over her at all times, after all, her 
father was a General and security was important. She wrapped her cloak 
around her tighter, she had escape from the estate had been so quick 
that no one had noticed her and she had no time to pack anything. Using 
the cellar passage, Melissa had made it off the battlements before 
anyone could even think of searching for her! Margaret was very quite, 
much more than usual. Peter left her side for a moment, going into the 
stables for something that he had left behind. Margaret was left out 
alone, kicking her shoes in the dirt. "Margaret!" Melissa hissed.
She turned around to see her mother, "Mummy!" She raced off towards her.
Melissa swept her up in an embrace, "Darling, come, we have little time 
for anything right now."
Peter called out from the stable and Melissa's heart stopped. Leaving 
Margaret standing, she ducked behind a stack of wood. "Margaret, give me 
a minute," Peter said, "I have to get something from the house. Don't 
leave this spot, understand me?"
Margaret nodded mechanically. Peter turned around and after he had 
vanished into the house, Melissa came out of hiding. "We have to go, 
Margaret. Run into the house and grab some things."
Margaret frowned, "I don't know what's happening!"
Melissa took her daughter's shoulders, "Listen sweet heart, you and I 
must leave soon. Go into the house and gather some clothes and put them 
in the case that's stored under your bed. Don't make it too heavy! Do as 
I say, Meg. Please!"
Margaret always trusted what her mother said, so without waiting another 
second, she ran off to the house and entered through the side door. 
Melissa sat patiently waiting. She estimated that her daughter must have 
been gone for a half hour. Peter returned though, and seeing that little 
Margaret had vanished, he dropped the saddle he was holding and raced 
into the stables screaming her name. "MARGARET!" The only sound that was 
heard was the call of the wind and rustling of grass. Peter pulled at 
his hair, "Damn it! MARGARET!" He raced off crying out her name, seeing 
her no where. Melissa felt proud when Margaret came back, proudly 
holding up her case and handing it to her mother, "Done Mummy."
"Wonderful. You must walk towards the fence on the other side, see it, 
Meg?"
Margaret looked off into the distance seeing the fence her mother was 
pointing to. "I see."
"Go there, run as fast as you can and get over it! I will come right 
after you. Don't stop."
Melissa saw that her little girl was scared, "Mummy-"
"No questions now, sweet heart. Go! Run!" 
Margaret turned on her heels and raced off, Melissa watched her small 
figure for a second, but then turned her attention to the stables. What 
she needed was a distraction. Putting down the case in the grass, she 
walked into the stable, pulling up the hatches on all the horse pens. 
Within minutes the horses had escaped into a near by field. It all felt 
like a dream as Melissa grabbed her daughter's case and ran after her, 
the sound of pounding horse hooves was heard and the ground shook. The 
cries from the stable tenders was heard as they raced after the animals. 
Melissa took her daughter and together they ducked behind the fence. 
They looked back at the estate one final time, half a dozen horses had 
been set lose and all the servants in sight had gone to help. "Mummy, 
where are we going?"
"Some where safe."
"But what about Daddy?"
"He won't be coming this time, love, don't think about it. We're going 
to see Aunt Dana."
"WHO?"
"My sister, she's going to help us."
"I didn't know you had a sister, Mummy." 
"No one did, Margaret. No one knew. We'll meet her husband first."
"Where will we be?"
"With luck, we'll be in England."
"But Daddy hates England!" Margaret protested.
"I know he does, but I am from England, and you and I must go there. It 
isn't safe for us here, they'll hurt us."
"Who will?"
"Enough talk. We're wasting time. Come now, I'll take very good care of 
you, Meg and everything will be fine."
"I don't want to go, Mummy!"
"If you stay, you'll never see me again, Meg!"
Margaret froze, it was a harsh revelation for a young child. "Never?"
"No. Daddy will make sure of that."
Margaret threw herself into her mother's arms, "Take me with you, 
Mummy!"
Melissa lifted her over another fence and they walked towards the road, 
"Think of it as an adventure, Meg. You and me on an adventure. And we're 
going home."
"Daddy's home?"
"My home, Margaret. England and we'll see my family."

 Eric Saulnier had been visiting at Mulder's estate when 
Melissa arrived. The two men stood to greet her, "What are you doing 
here, Dame Travenier?" 
She held Margaret's hand, "I had something urgent to discuss with Major 
Mulder."
Mulder sat her down, "Saulnier is a friend. I was informed that you and 
the General are not on good terms. He's sent half an army looking for 
you."
She winced, "I imagine, and he'll be furious when he finds that I took 
Margaret."
Mulder smiled down at the little girl, perhaps his daughter would look 
like that, look like Dana. Melissa took a breath, "I need to get hold of 
my sister soon, she's probably worried sick. Where are you hiding her, 
Mulder?"
"I'll take care of contacting Dana. A ship leaves tonight, nine o'clock. 
No matter what happens, you must be on it."
"But what about Dana?"
"I've taken care of her. I want you to stay with Captain Saulnier until 
tonight, he'll see you safely to the ship."
Melissa eyed the man, "You served under my husband once, didn't you?"
He nodded, "I can't say it was one of the best times of my life. Dame 
Travenier, I will see you and your daughter safely to France if you'll 
give me the opportunity."
She nodded, taking Margaret into her lap, "All right then, I suppose I'm 
running out of choices. I have nothing with me, it's just me and my 
daughter and her case."
Eric took Margaret's hand bag, "All right then, I'll see you to my 
carriage. Mulder, hope to catch you tonight before the ship departs."
Mulder nodded, "We could have problems. They might be looking for us 
there, so to keep your eyes open. I'll do my best to make it."
Margaret looked up at Mulder, then Melissa. "Mummy... is Daddy bad?"
Melissa's mouth fell open, "Not really, darling, no. He's just not on 
England's side and I am. Come, Captain Saulnier will take us."
Eric took Margaret's case, "We'll have to buy you some things before you 
leave on your trip."
"Where am I going?" Margaret questioned.
"England, child, you're going to England."
"Will you come, too?" Margaret continued her interrogation.
"No. I have to stay here. But I'll see you off to the ship, have you 
ever been on a ship?"
"No."
"It'll be fun." Melissa said, taking her daughter out to the carriage, 
Margaret was lifted in and then Eric helped Melissa in. "Dame 
Travenier-"
"Melissa Scully."
"Dana's sister, of course, Melissa Scully! Well, Melissa, you will not 
see Dana until tonight. But it's still early morning at the ship departs 
late tonight. We have time to get things for Margaret. You can hide out 
at my estate until it's time."
Mulder looked at her, "Melissa, Dana wasn't going to leave without you."
She sighed, "How is she?"
"Better now that she's out of the prison. We'll see you soon." Mulder 
waved to Margaret as the carriage pulled out of the gates, then he 
turned and went back to his office.
 Melissa watched as Eric covered a yawn, "Haven't slept 
well?" She asked.
"No, none of us had since Dana was put in prison. Any second now she 
could be caught. I'm so nervous I haven't eaten in days."
"All that for my sister?"
"For everyone involved, Madame."
Margaret spoke up, "When are we going to England, Mummy?"
"Tonight." Eric answered for Melissa.
"Why so soon?" Melissa questioned.
"The only ship leaves tonight, we've kept Dana in hiding since the 
escape. After this ship is gone, there won't be another for a very long 
time."
Melissa put her head down, "Well then, I guess we better be punctual."
"That's an understatement." Eric smiled.

 Dupuis had been called by Marchand, "Both Travenier's wife 
and Mulder's wife have vanished. Maybe they were even working together, 
most likely they were. You have to find them soon!"
Dupuis smiled proudly, handing him a sheet of paper. "Never let it be 
said that I am a stupid man. I know that they'll be trying to get out of 
England soon, so I did some research. Tonight a ship leaves for London 
and it's the last one... you know how the rules are, no more of that 
business!"
Marchand laughed, "Wonderful, Dupuis! If we catch then, I assure you a 
promotion!"
Dupuis wasn't surprised by this, and only smiled more. "Thank you, Sir!"
Marchand laughed to himself as he read the paper, "Tonight at nine... 
have two dozen guards there ready and waiting, you are in charge, 
Dupuis."
"Of course, Sir."
"Dismissed!"
Dupuis proudly marched out of the room and smiled at his fellow 
officers, dreaming of being a General some day soon.

 Langley and Byers had dragged in two cases full of things. 
"What's this?" Frohike questioned, Dana standing not far behind him.
"This is what Mulder calls 'a few things.' They're for Dana." Byers 
complained, setting them on the ground.
"What for?" Frohike laughed.
"She's leaving tonight, she can't go without clothes and other items... 
so Mulder had the sent over."
"Actually, he made us go and get them!" Langley snapped.
"Thank you so much, gentlemen." Dana smiled sweetly at them, eyeing the 
cases her husband had sent. 
"Are you ready for tonight?" Byers asked.
"That depends-"
"On your sister." They all three chorused.
She rolled her eyes, "This is very important to me!"
"And you'll be on that ship, so will Melissa. She's been found and is 
waiting to meet you." Byers gave the good news.
"REALLY?" For a brief moment she considered that it was a trick to 
assure that she'd be on the ship.
"Really. Mulder sent her to Saulnier's, she'll be safe until tonight. 
Her daughter, also."
Dana felt her heart swell and she threw her arms around Byers, the 
messenger of good news. "THANK GOD! Thank all of you!" She hugged 
Frohike and Langley also.
Frohike blushed, "We were happy to help, really."
"Within a week I'll be back in London and everything will be fine! Am I 
going alone?" She suddenly turned to the three men.
"Eric can't go with you, Mulder can't, either. We are to accompany you 
home." Byers explained.
"WHEN WAS THIS PLANNED?" She asked.
"It wasn't in the original plan," Byers admitted, "but a woman can not 
travel alone and not attract attention to herself. So we shall go with 
you. If it's possible, that is." 
"What do you mean by that?"
"If we aren't able to get on the ship without us, you'll have to go 
alone with your sister and her daughter, but most likely we will be with 
you."
Dana sighed, sitting into a chair, "All right, I understand... is there 
no way Fox can come with us?"
"It isn't possible, he still has a chance in their military, he is still 
useful!" Byers tried to be the voice of reason.
She nodded, "I suppose I have to share him with my country... damn the 
war!"

 Night came quicker than anyone would have suspected. Eric 
had gone with Melissa and Margaret to the pier, a crowd of passengers 
had gathered around and all were huddled together. Melissa took her 
daughter's hand, the case in the other. "Well... thank you so much, 
Monsieur Saulnier, God bless."
He smiled at her, "It was my pleasure, Madame. Good bye, little one." He 
bent down to look Margaret in the eye. 
She shook his hand, "Bye, good bye."
He patted Margaret's head, then kissed Melissa's hand. "Allez au revoir, 
have a safe passage home."
She smiled again, "Thank you so much, there is no way I could possibly 
repay you!"
"I need no payment. Go on, I will not leave until the ship has 
departed."
She couldn't resist throwing her arms around him in a hug, "Thank you a 
thousand times again!"
Then she released him and walked toward the crowd, Margaret beside her. 
Eric was scanning the crowd, his eyes falling on the uniform of a French 
solider. Captain Dupuis! "Damn it!" He hissed. Quickly, he checked his 
pistol and raced back to his carriage, keeping his eyes on the soldiers 
that had silently swarmed in. <No, we're so damned close!>
 On the opposite side of the pier, Dupuis made his way 
through the crowd, seeing no one who could be Melissa Travenier or Dana 
Mulder. A flash of red hair caught his eye, he quickly pushed a man 
aside to get to the woman, he took her shoulder and spun her around, 
"Madame!"
A young girl with a pink face and green eyes gasped, pulling back, "Who 
are you?" She demanded.
Dupuis flushed with embarrassment, "I'm sorry, Mademoiselle, I thought 
you were someone else. Forgive me." He retreated to his other soldiers. 
The woman watched him as he walked off, then ran to her brother, not 
leaving his side. "Soldiers every where, why?" She asked.
He shrugged, "We might find out."
Dupuis continued searching the crowd, but saw no one else who could be 
one of the female British spies.

 Dana and Byers walked together towards the pier, Langley and 
Frohike and an attendant carried the bags. After they had everything in 
place, ticket problems worked out and baggage put on board, the quartet 
relaxed. "We're going to be all right." Byer assured her, patting her 
arm.
She smiled weakly, "I'm sure we will be. But still..." her voice trailed 
off.
"Look!" Langley pointed.
Dana's heart jumped, she expected to be jumped by Frenchmen any second 
now, but her eyes fell on Mulder. He had a smile on his face, his arms 
open to her.
She raced to him, "Fox! Oh, Fox!"
He hugged her tight, "I didn't want you to leave without saying good 
bye."
"You aren't coming...?"
"No, love, of course I can't. But I trust Byers to take care of you." He 
kissed her forehead.
Byers approached him, "Sorry to break his tender moment, but I think I 
see soldiers." He whispered.
Mulder froze, "Oh, my God." Dana pulled away, looking over the heads of 
other people, she froze. "We're done for."
"No, you aren't. Go, through the alley back there... I'll find some way 
to gain their attention. If you can make it back in time, get on the 
ship." He kissed Dana, looking into her eyes. "Don't do anything stupid, 
Dana, Melissa is here, you must find her and go."
She nodded, "I'll see you in London."
He smiled, "Yes." <God be willing...>
Byers led Frohike, Dana and Langley to the ship while Mulder slipped 
back out to the street. The crowd was beginning to thin a bit, the night 
air was cold and there was a sickening smell of fish in the air. Dana 
put her hood on, covering her hair and most of her face. A solider 
passed her, brushing her shoulder, chills went up her spine and she had 
forgotten to breath until the lack of air became too much. "Don't worry, 
you're fine." Byers watched Dupuis disappear into the crowd again. She 
smiled, "We might actually make it, Byers."
The next fifteen minutes remained uneventful, although all of them were 
very anxious. Shots were heard and so were screams, all coming from the 
street. Many of the passengers were on the ship, but some were still 
outside and the crowd was still fairly thick. The soldiers ran towards 
the shots and Dana and her companions were going in the opposite 
direction, towards the ship. Dupuis raced by, too excited to see where 
he was going, he knocked Dana over and onto the hard ground. She fell 
with a shriek and was flat on the floor. Byers went to her aid but 
Dupuis reached her first. "I'm sorry, Madame-" Her hood fell from her 
face and her eyes were wide. "Dame Mulder, how nice to see you." His 
grip on her arm tightened.
A second passed before Byers and Langley took action, Byers took out his 
pistol and shoved it into the side of the French captain, "Do not move, 
Captain Dupuis, or I will fire holes into you."
The man motionless, "Who are you?"
"None of your business, Captain. Come with me. You three, get on the 
ship and don't turn back."
"But what about you-" Frohike started.
"We'll see. Go. NOW!"
Dana was pushed back towards the crowd and Byers walked the Captain 
towards the edge of the pier. "You're going to kill me no matter what." 
The captain said.
"Are you afraid?" Byers asked.
"No... if I feared death, I would have stayed out of the army." The 
captain spun around and pushed Byers back, knocking him against a wall. 
The pistol fell to the ground and Dupuis picked it up, pointing it at 
him. Byers was filled with fear from head to toe, he realized the 
intensity of the situation and thought his heart would burst before 
Dupuis had a chance to kill him! "Don't do this!" Byers said dumbly.
"I have no time to deal with you, so do excuse me!" He fired once at 
Byers. The man fell to the floor, the pain was so intense that he could 
not even see. Dupuis dropped the pistol and ran back to the main pier, 
keeping his eyes open for Dana or any of her companions, Byers was left 
alone, motionless in the alley.

END of 7/?
----------

           No one had been more surprised than Melissa when the gun shots went
 off. She wrapped Margaret into her arms and they boarded. "Mummy...
what's happening?"  "Shh, stay silent, Margaret. I'll explain everything
later." They blended in with the other passengers perfectly, and the
soldiers raced by the ship and out to the street. Melissa was able to
watch from a window, Dupuis was wearing a hat that set him apart from the
other men in uniform. She bit her lower lip, anxious, frightened and
angry. Angry that they had shown up here, Travenier would not rest until
he had Margaret back!

            Dupuis wasn't about to give up... he could have a promotion
waiting for him tonight! He took the arm of a solider, "I just saw Dame
Mulder, she's with some men, one of them is dead in the ally now... but
she is still about some where."  The man nodded, gathering his fellow
soldiers and they all listened carefully as Dupuis gave a description of
the woman they were searching for. "We must stop the ship, I shall speak
with the captain and you keep searching!"  While the other men split up,
Dupuis raced up to the ship, making his way to an officer on board, "I am
Captain Dupuis of the French army, I must speak with your captain." 
"About what, Sir?"  "We have fugitives on board and they can not leave
France, we must find them first."  The man got excited, "Fugitives! How
dangerous! What does he look like?"  "It's a woman, short with red hair...
a green cloak."  The man almost laughed, "You race to find a woman? Who
did she wrong?"  "The entire army, just stop this ship from leaving and my
men and I will take care of the rest."  "Yes, Sir." He ran to inform the
Captain. Dupuis saw some old women starring at him and whispering, he
hated cackling old hens! "Captain! We found Dame Travenier! Her daughter
is no where to be found, but we have her!"  Dupuis followed the man back
the pier. People were now flooding outside to see the show, the soldiers
were trying to make it around the crowds. Melissa Travenier stood, four
soldiers around her. "Bonjour, Madame. How nice of you to show yourself." 
She said not a even a single syllable.  "Where is Margaret Travenier?"  "I
do not have her." Melissa said, her head raised now.  The Captain shook
his head, "I don't think so... you must have her. Where is she?"  "IF I
HAD HER, SHE WOULD BE WITH ME RIGHT NOW!"  Dupuis turned to a man standing
behind him wearing the French uniform, "Find her, she's probably on the
ship, drag her out here before it leaves!"  Two men ran off to find her
while Dupuis and two soldiers escorted Melissa away from prying eyes and
out to the street. No one was around and the night covered everything with
blackness. She turned to Dupuis, "Please, let me go! The General does not
want me, he wants-"  "No! I will do as I was ordered, and you will shut
up, even if I must silence you myself!" 
            Mulder had his hat tilted down so his face was covered. A
glimpse of red hair made his heart freeze, but when he realized it was not
his Dana, he relaxed a bit. Walking towards the small group, he saw it was
Melissa. The ship left soon, and Da na would never forgive him if Melissa
failed to be on board. Taking out his pistol, he walked up behind them,
light foot steps not giving away his existence. Before the two soldiers
knew what was happening, one of them had been knocked to the ground befo
re he could scream. Dupuis and the other man whirled around, drawing out
swords. Mulder was in no mood for a fair sword fight, with one shot he had
the other man down in the arm. But the man was prodigious, and one shot
would not cause his fall. He moved towards him, cursing in foreign
languages that Mulder did not know. Dupuis came up from behind him,
pinning him down to the ground, "Go and get help! I'll keep him here!" 
The wounded man stumbled towards the pier where other soldiers were
waiting for news of the Captain and their mission's progress.  Dupuis
pointed a gun into Mulder's back, "You know, Mulder, I would have never
thought you would betray France for a woman!"  He kept silent.  "What does
Dame Travenier have to do with you?"  "Nothing!" Mulder shouted.  "Tell
me, Mulder!"  By then, Melissa had taken a fallen pistol into her hand,
pointing at Dupuis, "Get off him!"  "That gun is empty, Madame! Why do you
think it was dropped?"  Melissa's face was wiped with fright. Mulder
started to struggle, "RUN MELISSA! HURRY BEFORE-" He was kicked in the
ribs of Dupuis, "Shut up!"  Melissa's gaze turned from the two men to an
object behind them. When Dupuis turned to see what had caught her eye, he
only had a second before he was shot in the chest. The man holding the
pistol was bleeding, and he fell to his knees. "Go..." He whisper ed.
Blood covered his hands and his hat had fallen to the ground. Mulder
helped him stand, "Byers, what happened to you!"  "Dupuis.... Melissa, the
ship!"  Melissa turned to him, "I-"  "Shut up and run, Melissa!" Mulder
snapped at her, "God be with you, Dana is supposed to be on the ship. When
you get to England, find Walter Skinner!"  She wiped her eyes, "I thank
you, both."  "Go!" They chorused. Melissa gathered her long skirts and
raced back to the ship, the horns were blowing and it was only a matter of
minutes before the ship left. Margaret was safely hidden in a baggage room
where no one would look.  Byers fell and Mulder caught him, "It isn't as
bad as you think," Mulder told him, "but you must get to a doctor. Come
now, the carriage is down there."  A carriage came racing down towards
them and the door flew open, Eric Saulnier came out. "Get him inside,
Mulder, they've seen you, haven't they?"  "Dupuis is dead..." Mulder
motioned towards the Captain's body.  "Have they seen you?"  "One other
man saw me, he has probably told everyone by now. Take him to a doctor, I
will lead them away from Dana and Melissa." Byers was released into Eric's
care and Mulder fled in an other direction. A shot rang out behind him as
the carriage pulled a way. "STOP!"  Two soldiers had him pinned, and
Mulder had dropped his pistol some where near Dupuis. <DAMN IT!>

             Melissa's heart has been racing so fast she was sure it was
going to burst inside of her. She ran onto the ship, colliding with a man.
"I'm sorry-" She looked up to see a solider starring down at her. Her eyes
went wide and she shrieked, turn ing around trying to find an escape
route. He grabbed her arms and dragged her out onto the deck, "Madame
Travenier, I'm glad I found you. It would have been awful if the ship
left. Where is General Travenier's daughter?"  "She's my daughter, too!"
Melissa shouted at him, getting the attention of some of the French
passengers.  He gripped her arm harder, "I shall make you a deal. If you
give me the General's daughter, I will pretend I never saw you."  She spat
at him, "Of course not!"  The solider took his pistol out shoved it into
her back, "Come with me."  Melissa panicked, she kicked at him and
scratched at him until he bled, but he had her pinned against the railing,
the water just behind her. Melissa grabbed at the gun, digging her nails
into his wrist and then.... BANG!  The passengers all jumped to their feet
to see that fate of the red haired woman who had fought with the solider.
She crumpled to the ground, her face showed sock and fear. "I'm a doctor,
let me through!" An old man shouted, rushing to her aid. "Tell us where
Margaret is!" The solider insisted, "If she is on bored, she'll be taken
to England and orphaned! Left to walk the streets alone! WHERE did you
hide her?"  Melissa sobbed during her final seconds, everything starting
to blur and getting dark. Margaret had watched silently from another deck,
hiding behind a group of old women. Her first thought was to get to her
father, the man shouting at her mother looked l ike trouble. Her primal
survival instincts told her to get off the ship, and she found ramp and
rushed back onto the pier. Never in her life had she wanted her father
more, someone to make it all go away!

            Dana never made it onto the ship, it was swarming with
soldiers and all of them were looking for her. "No-"  Melissa's body was
taken off the ship by soldiers, Dana buried her face in Frohike's
shoulder, "God, no! Don't take her away from me yet! I tried so hard!" 
Langley heard voices coming towards them, "We have no choice but to
retreat, so let's move it!" He dragged Dana and Frohike up the walk. When
the sight of a girl looking like a China doll caught Dana's eyes, she
froze. "Margaret?" She called out, walking towards the small figure.  The
girl was crying silently, "Are you Margaret?" Dana asked again.  The
child's lower lip quivered and she nodded, her red curls bouncing, "Who
are you?"  "I'm Dana. You're mother's sister. You poor darling, come with
me."  "Mummy's gone." She whispered.  Dana hugged her tight, "Shh, I'll
take care of you, little one." Langley walked towards them, "Dana, if we
delay another second, we're doomed!"  She handed Langley the child, "Run!"
Langley had Margaret in his arms, and they disappeared into a maze of
buildings, the soldiers had not spotted them but they would most likely be
doing a search of the area soon. A stack of empty crates was set in an al
ley waiting to be disposed of, Langley helped Dana and Margaret get into
one, and he and Frohike hid in another. The sounds of horses racing by
caused them to sit motionless. "Captain Dupuis is dead." One man said to
another.  "I know, we must inform the General. He had Melissa Travenier,
but she was shot. And there is more bad news..."  "What is that?" The
first man asked.  "Major Mulder is a traitor. He was the one who killed
Dupuis."  The first man gasped, "Mulder? But he can't be!"  "A heavy price
has been put on his head. I doubt that they could have gotten far, the
second patrol will meet us in the square, let's go now." They rode back
through the way they came and the sound of horse shoes on the pavement
became distant. Dana pulle d herself up, "They know about Mulder! Now
what!"  Frohike shook his head, "It was Byers who was the brains of this
outfit."  "I have brains, just give me a second to think!" Langley said to
him, snappish.  Dana climbed out of her hiding spot, "There is no way
we're leaving France tonight. We have to hide."  "We'll go back to my
house and wait there for further instructions. We'll have to get a letter
to Skinner asking for help." Frohike was thoughtful.  "My first mission
and I have to blunder so badly everyone must suffer!" She hissed, "Leave
me be and save yourselves!"  Langley rolled his eyes, "Stop being dramatic
and come on! The house is far from here, but we'll have to walk since we
have no carriage. Are you up to it?"  She nodded.  "Good, then lets go
because it'll be a long night ahead of us."  "Mulder-"  "He can take care
of himself. I'm sure he already beat us to the house." Langley tried to be
the voice of reason, something Byers usually did.  "Besides, we'll have to
regroup tomorrow and think of another plan." Frohike led the way down the
alley.  Dana looked up towards the heavens, "Melissa, I'm so sorry. I will
do my best to save your girl, I swear it! What will happen to us?" She
asked the stars. The answer the received was the sound of shouting
soldiers far away. She blinked her tears away, <De liver me my husband,
stars, and I will never return to France again.>

             Mulder was beaten so badly he failed to rise to his feet when
Marchand and Travenier came. <Tell them nothing.... nothing at all!> He
said over and over in his mind. Travenier stood in front of him, "I would
have thought this from any other m an, even Dupuis, but not you!" 
Marchand stomped towards him, "WHO SENT YOU? The British? The Dutch? Both
of them?"  Mulder shook his head, "I wasn't sent by anyone."  "Lies!"
Travenier ordered a sergeant to kick him again.  Mulder fell to his knees. 
Travenier asked the question that had been burning in his mind all night,
"What do you have to do with my wife?"  "Nothing!"  "Were you having an
affair with her?" The General's voice was rising and he was becoming
upset.  "NO! I hardly knew her!"  "Did she give you the steam boat plans?"
Traveneir asked harshly.  Mulder kept silent.  "I'll take that as a yes!
How long were you working together? Since our marriage? Was she sent to
marry me so she could spy on me?"  "No! She was not a spy!" Mulder blurted
out.  "But YOUR wife was!" Marchand insisted.  Mulder looked him in the
eye, "Go. To. Hell."  Marchand took a step back, letting Travenier take
over. "Who is your superior?"  "No one!" Mulder shouted.  "Are you in the
British Army or just a man who sells secrets for money?"  "I sell secrets,
Monsieur, of all kinds!"  Travenier hit him, "WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?" 
Mulder's face was bleeding from the blows he had endured, "That little
secret will cost you, General." Mulder said, spitting out the blood. 
Travenier was not impressed with Mulder, he started pacing in front of
him, "LISTEN to me, Mulder, I will buy your secret. Tell me where Margaret
is, and I will let you live. I will even let your little wife live!"  "Do
you actually think I'm dumb enough to believe you? I was smart enough to
stay hidden in your army for years and you think that I'll tell you?
YOU'LL KILL ME!"  Travenier's face was red with fury and you could cut the
tension in the room with a knife! He grabbed Mulder by the shoulders,
shaking him, "If you don't tell me where my daughter is, I'll spend the
next two weeks slowly killing you!"  Mulder didn't even wince, "I will die
anyway."  Travenier pushed Mulder away, stomping out of the room, too
angry to speak. Marchand, not knowing what was left to stay, ordered that
Mulder be hit again a few more times and followed his friend. "Mon ami, we
will find her." He assured Travenier.  Travenier's head came up, "I know
what we can do. You must get hold of a woman who looks like Dame Mulder. I
think his feelings are very strong for her, stronger than we thought. It
was more than his heir and her body that he wanted."  "What are you
planning?" Marchand asked, too confused to put things together.  "I will
tell you soon, but find a woman who looks like her, and bring her to me. I
don't care WHO SHE IS! I don't care WHAT you must pay her! And bring me a
doctor... Mulder is going to need one!" 

            Dana and her companions had made it to Frohike's house by
dawn. No one had seen them, and they were safe, tired... but safe. She
collapsed into the bed, "Damn it, I've never been so tired."  Frohike
coughed, "I would offer you some drink, but I can't feel my legs!"  She
laughed faintly, "I'll get you all something to drink."  Langley had
fallen silent, "We need to find out what happened to Byers and Mulder." 
"Eric would know..." Dana said, "he was the one who dropped Melissa off at
the pier, wasn't he?"  "He was." Frohike confirmed.  "I'll go speak with
him today, you two stay here. I think they didn't get a good look at my
face. I'll meet you back here tonight."  Margaret had instantly fallen
asleep, Dana decided to lie down beside her, stroking her red hair. <A
true Scully if I ever saw one.> She smiled to herself, pushing the tears
away. Things were not looking good, but they still had a chance. 

            Eric wasn't at all surprised when Langley came to his door. He
looked at him in the eye, "You wanted in update on our current situation?" 
"Yes, I did. How is Mulder?"  "Captured. Last night, Melissa was about to
be dragged off by soldiers, he exposed himself to save her."  "I saw that
Melissa made it to the ship, before her body was dragged off. She was
killed last night." Langley bit his lower lip.  "I heard the news from
another solider, it's awful."  "Did my friend, Byers, make it to the
ship?"  "No, of course not! He was in no condition to go anywhere last
night!"  "What do you mean?" Langley's heart rate sped up.  "He was shot,
did you not see?"  "SHOT? IS HE ALIVE? WHO SHOT HIM?" A thousand questions
came into his mind and Eric wasn't given answers fast enough.  "Yes, he
was shot. Yes, he is alive. And Dupuis was the man who shot him. The last
I saw Mulder, he was trying to get Byers to a doctor. I took Byers and
Mulder ran off. This morning I received word that Major Mulder was
discovered as a traitor."  "My God! What are we going to do?"  "This
situation just keeps on getting worse and worse. Byers wounds were not as
bad as we thought... luckily, Dupuis was a bad shot. He got his shoulder,
stupid man, and Byers will survive if we keep his wounds free of
infection. It's painful, I do not do ubt that, but he will most likely
survive. I have gotten him the best physician."  "Thank you, God bless
you!" Langley could not control himself. He had to pace around the room.
"So this is our current situation," Langley started, "Melissa never made
it out of France, who knows what they did with her body. Mulder is in
prison, Byers is out of action and Dana is still in hiding."  "WHAT? She
was not on the ship?" Eric jumped up to his feet.  Langley shook his head,
"She could not make it. We were lucky to get back to Frohike's home alive!
She is all right, but Dupuis had seen her-"  "That does not matter, Dupuis
is dead." Eric said simply.  "Captain Dupuis, I heard that last night.
How? I bet it was Mulder!"  "No, it was your friend, Byers. Byers was
coming in and out of conciousness. He said that Dupuis had Mulder cornered
and there was nothing Melissa could do, and by then, Byers had already
been shot and left for dead. You can guess the rest."  Langley moaned,
"The poor man!"  "If we had waited an hour longer to take him to the
doctor, he would have died. Do not fear, he will be fine."  Langley
nodded, "Mulder is in prison? What can we do?"  "Are Carryings and Harrods
still in France? We could use them again, we have two men down... Mulder
and Byers."  Langley nodded, "They never had a chance to leave France. Now
they're as stuck as we are. They didn't even try to leave last night
because Skinner has insisted that they stay until the end of the year." 
"We could use their help. Is there any way we can contact them?"  "I know
how to get hold of them, do you have anything in mind?"  "He's being kept
in Le Cauchemar."  The blood drained from Langley's face, "CAUCHEMAR! God,
no! The nightmare prison! Men hunt in packs there! We'll never get him
out!"  Eric remained positive, "I'm still a Captain, perhaps I can do
something. But this time, I can't blame it on Dupuis. That trick didn't
work anyway! I shall take care of getting in and getting out. You just
provide me with the man power."  Langley could not remain calm, "Mulder
could be dead by the time we get there! Cauchemar Prison will break him!" 
"Then we must hurry," said Eric, "because I want to return him to Dana in
once piece." 

            Dana had broken down when she learned that Mulder had been
captured. She fell to her knees and sobbed, "Fox! God, this isn't real!" 
Frohike tried to comfort her, "Dana, please, he'll be all right. I have
never met a man as strong as Mulder."  She turned to him, "Frohike, where
did they send him?"  "I don't know." He admitted.  She looked up at
Langley, "Where did they send him? Tell me!"  "Dana-"  "Was it the
Bastille? Please dot' say it was the Bastille!"  "No, Dana. It was Le
Cauchemar." Langley became quite.  Frohike went stiff, "Oh, my God."  Dana
turned to him, "What? What is Cauchemar?"  "It's named the nightmare
prison. It's Hell on Earth!" Frohike had become hysterical and could not
stop talking. "Men would rather kill themselves than go to Cauchemar! It's
torture and you have to keep your eyes open because the other inmates will
kill y ou for your shoes!"  Langley tried to silence Frohike, but the
little man kept on rambling, "If any of them are released, they come back
insane! No one comes out the same!"  "SHUT UP, FROHIKE!" Langley snapped. 
Frohike froze, "He'll be fine, Dana!"  She stood up, picking herself up
off the floor. "We have to get him." Her voice made it clear that she
would go with or without them.  The two men looked at each other, "Dana-"
They started.  "NO! That is my husband in there, and I will not leave him
to those French wolves! If you will not help me, I will do it alone." 
"Eric Saulnier said he will help us get him back, Carryings and Harrods
are with us also." Langley said quickly.  "Excellent! When do we start?" 
"We start when Eric Saulnier is ready." Langley filled her in.  She took a
deep breath, "Write to Skinner and let him know that we are in trouble." 
"We aren't in trouble-" Frohike started.  "We are! This whole plan has
gone spiraling downward since I was caught going through that damned
desk!" Dana's voice was rising and her face turned red. " There is no way
we can salvage it! The best we can hope for is getting out of France alive
with the
 steam boat plans! We're finished! It's over! Our last mission is getting
Mulder out and getting home! If we delay.... we could all be killed." 

            Mulder was half awake when the guards came for him the next
morning. A doctor gave him a dose of some liquid, he tried to spit it out,
"Damn, what is that?"  The doctor looked up, "It's going to make you feel
stronger, so relax." Mulder leaned against a wall and slid to the floor. A
sergeant picked him up and dragged him into another room, there was a
window looking into a smaller room. Travenier came forward,
 "This is your last chance, Mulder, tell us where Margaret is and you're
free."  Mulder remained silent and stiff, but Travenier kept his control.
"Bring out Dame Mulder."  Mulder's head shot up, "Dana?"  Travenier was
tempted to smirk at him, but he kept his face expressionless. Marchand
dragged in a short woman with fiery red hair, kicking and screaming.
"FOX!" She shouted, only to be silenced with a gag. Someone wearing a
soldier's uniform handed Marcha nd a whip, the younger General cracked it
against the wall. Travenier looked at the horror on Mulder's face, "If you
tell me where Margaret is, she'll be set free. If you don't, I will have
her whipped fifty times every day until she dies!"  Mulder was starting to
feel dizzy and the images in front of him were blurring up. "Dana-" He
cried out her name, trying to reach her through the window.  She was
placed on a table race down, her arms and legs where shackled by chains
and cuffs. A solider came towards her, putting his hands on her back and
the sound of ripping fabric was heard in the silent room. The back of her
dress ripped off by a soldie r's hand. The thought of another man's hands
on his wife made Mulder furious, he pounded on the glass. "LEAVE HER BE!" 
Marchand looked up at Mulder for a brief second, "Are you ready to talk,
Major Mulder?"  Mulder fell to his knees, "She's in England now! She was
on the ship last night."  "Without her mother?" Travenier's voice was
rising.  "What?"  "Melissa died last night, was Margaret on that ship
alone?" The General went into a panic.  "She could have been..." Mulder
really had no way of knowing what happened to his friends.  "You're a
liar!" Travenier snapped.  "No, I'm not!"  "You would not abandon a girl
to find her own way in England! Who went with Margaret? Or is she still in
France?"  Mulder shook his head. Travenier gave Marchand the signal,
ordering that the girl be whipped. Mulder listened to her screams as
Marchand showed no mercy. "Don't hurt her..." Whatever the doctor had
given Mulder had long since taken effect, and Mulder fell
 into an oblivious sleep. Travenier ordered the girl to be lifted up,
"Give her the money and go." He said to Marchand.  Marchand helped the
girl take the protective padding off her back so she would not feel the
whip, she came out of the room without a scratch, and fifty pounds richer.
Travenier waited for Marchand, "We might be needing that girl again, she's
a good actres s."  Marchand nodded, "Did Mulder truly believe it was his
wife?"  "The drugs the doctor gave him worked like a charm. But I still
don't have my daughter. Keep the patrols searching for her, you might even
need to send some men to London to find her. I will not stop until I have
my Margaret home."  "Are you sorry about your wife?" Marchand asked the
question.  Travenier looked down at him, "No, not anymore. She betrayed
me. If Mulder still refuses to tell me the truth, I will have him whipped,
I'll do it myself!"  "Sir, you'll kill him!" Marchand cut in.  "That was
the point, mon ami." 

            Eric had been quicker than they expected. He showed at
Frohike's door, a set of keys in hand. "I stole these from a drunk man, I
had to buy him eight bottles of wine to get him drunk in the first place!" 
Frohike ushered him inside, "Are we ready?"  "I am, are you?"  "Carrings
and Harrods are here." Frohike pointed to the two men sitting in the other
room, talking with a determined Dana.  Eric walked passed Frohike to her,
"Are you all right?"  She nodded, keeping the tears at bay and pulling
herself up to her full height, which wasn't much compared to Eric, but it
didn't bother her. "Can we please hurry, I'm so worried about him." 
"Monsiure Carrings, Monsiure Harrods, nice to meet you again. I wish it
was pleasant circumstances that we see each other."  "Like wise." Carrings
sighed.  "Shall we get started? Gather Frohike and Langley in here, I need
all of you to hear this." 
            Eric kept the cloak over his head and Langley did the same.
"We have a prisoner!" Eric shouted.  Two guards at the front gate raised
the barrier, "Do you 'ave the paper?" A grundgy looking man asked.  Eric
handed him sheets of papers, "Here you are, Monsieure."  "What is he in
here for?" One of them asked out of curiosity.  "Murder, at least two
dozen!" Langley said, pushing Frohike, their prisoner, through the gate.
They were led down sets of stairs made of stone. The prison was cold and
damp and the sound of moaning was heard down one of the corridors. "Oh,
please don't pu t me with *that* man!" Frohike whispered.  Eric kept on
walking, Frohike was between Langley and Eric. A cell door was opened and
Frohike was placed inside. Eric turned to the guard, "This man is a
priest," he pointed to Langley, "he needs to speak with the prisoner
alone. One confession."  The guard nodded and vanished into a stone
corridor. Frohike took off his disguise and walked out of the open cell
door, "Can we go find Mulder now?"  "He is in cell D 33. I know that there
is a passage out of here, I just need to find it. It's easy to get into a
prison, the hard part is getting back out. You find Mulder and I'll do the
rest."  "Are Harrods and Carrings waiting outside?" Langley asked.  "Of
course, everything is set. Find Mulder." Eric quickly and silently walked
off.

            He was laying on the floor, beaten and bruised, exhausted. He
felt as if a thousand knives stabbed into him every time he moved. He must
have had a few broken bones, it felt as if everything was broken. Images
of them beating his Dana invaded his mind against his will and Mulder
could not keep from wincing. The screaming was in his head and he felt as
if the world was spinning much too fast. <Dana, God, what have they done
to us?> How she had gotten to be there, he did not know. How he was goi ng
to get her out, he did not know. <What do I know? I'm doomed!> Mulder
rested his head on the cool stone floor and let sleep over take him,
sending him into a blissful blackness. 

            Langley and Frohike slowly walked through the corridor,
looking for Mulder's cell. When they found it, Langley peeked through the
window, seeing their fallen comrade crumpled on the floor. "God, I think
he's dead!" Langley whispered. Frohike q uickly got out the pins and
started picking at the lock, in minutes, the heavy door was opened and the
two men stepped through. Mulder's cell was small, a claustrophobic man
would have gone mad in it. Frohike kept watch in the hall while Langley
checked M ulder for signs of life! "Mulder, get up." He whispered.  His
response was a moan from Mulder, "Let me die...."  "Shut up, Dana will
have my head if I let you die! She's waiting for you back at the house!
Get up!"  Mulder was forced to sit up, "She was captured, I saw her last
night!"  "You were dreaming, Dana was with us last night." "No, they
whipped her until she screamed and cried! I saw it!"  Langley put his hand
on Mulder's forehead, "Damn, he has a fever. Help me, Frohike."  Langley
was on the left, Frohike on the right, together they lifted Mulder up and
carried him out. Langley locked the door behind them, the three wobbling
their way out to a main corridor. That was where they ran into Eric, he
had a look of panic on his f ace, "A pair of guards is coming down here!
Quick, into a cell!"  The three looked at each other, "Eric, those cells
aren't very nice-" Mulder whispered.  "I know, get into one so they think
we're prisoners! Hurry!"  There was a cell with bars that was left wide
open, the quartet hid there, leaving the door open only a little bit, but
enough to make it look closed to someone standing far away. Mulder was
hidden under a stack of hay that was to be a bed, and the others
 sat down on the floor, hanging their heads.  The sounds of foot steps
filled their ears, "General Marchand ordered this block locked up for the
night."  "Why so early?" The second guard asked.  "There is a prisoner
here who is a traitor to France. I'm fighting the urge to beat the bastard
myself. Come along now, lock the gates." Sounds of bars coming down and
gates being locked were all that was heard, then silence as the guards
walked away. "We 're trapped!" Frohike hissed, "Who's bright idea was
this? I think we should have just fought them!"  Eric rolled his eyes as
he opened the cell door. Other prisoners were too out of it to open their
eyes for them! "Carry Mulder, I'll lead the way."  "There is no way out!"
Langley complained.  "I know of one. Shut up and come along silently."
Eric went through a door that led into another hall, the cells were down a
separate passage, so there were no prisoners here. Eric slid his hands up
and down the walls, trying to find something. A lose bri ck stood out and
Eric pulled on it, a small door opened for them. He grinned, "I learned
about this door from a man who was once prisoner here. Come, Mulder, are
you up to a long walk?"  "But Dana, I have to find her!" Mulder seemed
desperate.  "She's at the house, she's fine." Frohike assured him.  "But I
saw her!"  "Mulder, we were with her less than two hours ago, move your
ass into that passage and let's get out of here. She's waiting for you."
Eric took Mulder's arm and helped him through. They crawled on their hands
and knees for what seemed like forever. The pa ssage was dark, so there
was nothing to see. Frohike gasped, "I think a spider just crawled on my
arm! It must be the size of Europe!"  Langley pushed him forward, "A
spider is the least of our worries."  They finally made it out of the
small tunnel and into a larger one. At least now they could walk on their
legs. Mulder was whispering prayers for his wife as he walked, the others
tried not to listen but it was difficult for the lack of conversation as
ma ddening. "Mulder, I swear on my name, Dana is fine and well. Not a
scratch on her." Eric said for the tenth time.  Mulder still trusted his
eyes more than he trusted Eric, and he kept on whispering prayers until
the made it outside. "There is the gate. Harrods and Carrings are waiting
for us back there." They were about to walk towards the carriage when the
carriage c ame to them. Harrods opened the door, "Hello, Mulder, do get
your ass in before we're blown to bits! We've been spotted!" Mulder was
pushed into the carriage and before Frohike could close the door, it sped
off through a side gate, the guards failed to close it in time. Eric was
thinking aloud, "Perhaps I didn't think this out well enough..."  "NOW you
decide to work out details!" Langley shrieked! 

            Margaret was sound asleep, Dana wrapped her arms around her
new found niece. She sang a song that her mother used to sing to them,
Margaret opened her eyes. "My mummy loves that lullaby."  Dana smiled,
"Our mother loved it, also."  There was pounding on the door and Dana
jumped up. "Stay here, don't move!"  She fled down the steps and looked
out the small window, Langley was waiting on the other side of the door.
She pulled it open, a parade of men stomping through. Langley, Eric,
Frohike, Harrods, Carrings and... Mulder! "FOX!" She threw her arms around
him , he winced back with pain. "Oh, Fox, what did they do to you?"  "Are
you all right?" Mulder asked her, his voice a whisper.  "I'm fine, you're
the one who needs to be worried over!"  "Take him upstairs to sleep. He'll
need rest." Eric said as they all sat down at a table, discussing what to
do next. Dana let him lean on her and together they walked up the stair
case. Margaret sat up when Dana came in, her mouth fell open when she saw
Mulder.  "Margaret, sweet heart, move over." Dana said as she helped
Mulder lay down. But he would not lay down, "Dana, are you hurt?" He kept
on asking her the questions.  "I'm fine! Margaret, would you go down
stairs for a bit?"  The girl kept her eyes on Mulder as she walked out of
the room. After the door closed behind Margaret, Mulder quickly pulled
Dana to him, turning her around and unbuttoning the back of her dress.
"Fox!" Dana gasped.  He opened the back of her dress, pushing the corset
out of his way. There wasn't a mark on her back, just smooth, pale and
soft skin. "God, I don't understand." He ran his hands up and down her
back, looking for the marks that were inflicted by the French
 General.  She turned around to face him, the front of her dress falling
down. "Fox, are you all right?"  "Dana, I saw Marchand beating you with a
whip! But you don't have a mark on you!"  She pushed him down onto the
bed, laying down beside him, "Fox, I don't know what happened to you over
the past two days, but I was never with Marchand. I haven't laid eyes on
him since I was in the prison."  Mulder wrapped her in his arms, "I was so
worried for you."  She kissed his forehead, "Darling, you have a fever." 
He buried his face in her hair, "I'll live."  "You're bruised all over,
let me see." She helped him pull off his shirt, examing the once browned
skin that was now black and blue. She bit her lower lip, "I don't think
anything is broken, it doesn't feel like it. How long did they beat you,
Fox?"  He changed the subject by asking about Margaret, "What is she still
doing here?"  Dana took a breath, "I assume you didn't know. Melissa was
killed..." Dana kept the tears behind her lashes, "Margaret is in my care,
now."  Mulder took her hand, "I'm so sorry, Dana."  She kissed his mouth,
"Thank you, Mulder, for risking your life to help my sister. I'm so sorry
this happened to you. It's all my fault."  He ran his hands up and down
her back, pushing the dress out of his way, "It's fine, Dana, we'll be
just fine. How's my little one?" He put his hand on her belly.  Dana
smiled, "I think he or she is fine. I've been eating so much I'm surprised
I haven't blown up yet."  Mulder slipped her out of the dress, laying her
down beside him, wrapping her in the blanket, "You're starting to show a
little bit, I think."  She wrapped her arms around him, being careful not
to bruise him any further. "We have to go home, some how."  "Do we still
have the steam boat plans?" Mulder asked.  She nodded, "I have them. I
kept them with me the whole night while we were running about at the pier.
Being separated from you for two days broke my heart, Fox." She kissed his
shoulder.  "I know. Me, too."  Mulder would have continued with sweet
words but the pounding on the door stopped him. Dana covered herself, "Who
is it?"  "It's Frohike, we just received a letter from Skinner. Since
we've been discovered and Dana is in such a delicate condition, Skinner is
sending a ship for us."  Mulder fell back onto the pillows, "Thank
goodness."  "Thank you, Frohike. When did you get this message?" Dana
asked.  "Skinner sent one of the contacts just a minute ago! We're
discussing it down stairs, you're welcomed to join!" He laughed on the
other side of the door as he bounded down the steps. Dana crawled out of
the bed, putting her dress back on, "Stay and rest, love." She stroked his
dark hair.  "Dana, you worry like a mother hen."  She grinned, "Sorry, my
apologies."  He pulled her back down to the bed, "Stay with me..."  She
smiled, shaking her head. "I'll hurt you! Rest, the sooner you get
better... you know." Mulder would have playfully leered at her but he was
too bruised and battered. She put the dress on, checked her appearance and
left the room, the sound of her light foot steps fading every second. The
door slowly creaked open and Mulder looked up. Margaret entered, her eyes
wide. She looked curious. "Come here." Mulder called to he r.  She walked
towards him slowly, "I-"  He smiled, "Do you remember me? From a few days
ago?"  She nodded, "Who hit you?"  <You're Daddy!> Mulder didn't dare to
say the words, she was so young and didn't understand anything. Every
child must have a perfect image of their father, when Margaret was older,
she would understand, perhaps. "Some General."  "My Daddy is a General!"
She said proudly.  "Do you miss him?" Mulder asked.  "I miss Mummy."  He
stroked her red hair, she was a replica of Dana and Melissa. "I'm sure you
do, she's in a safe place though."  "Heaven?"  "For sure she's in heaven
with the angels."  Margaret climbed onto the bed next to him, "With
Angels?"  "Do you know what an angel is?"  She shook her head. Mulder sat
up a bit, wincing as the pain shot down his lower back, "They look like
people except they have wings of a dove. They're beautiful."  "Have you
ever seen one?"  "A lot of them, little red haired ones." Mulder smiled as
he pointed out her curls.  Margaret grinned, "Do all have red hair?"  "No,
I don't think so."  Dana was calling Margaret from down stairs, "Darling,
what are you doing up here? Come, you haven't eaten yet. Fox, I'll bring
you something and feed you myself." She winked at him, leading her niece
down to the kitchen. Mulder relaxed, they were all free
 now. What to do, what to do? 

            Skinner had it all planned out. In four days, he would have a
ship in the pier waiting for them. He hired a set of men to dress like
travelers, there was the crew of the ship and Skinner himself. If
everything worked out, they could slip in an d out and nobody would notice
them. The ship was called 'The White Ghost.' It was small compared to the
naval vessels, but it was perfect for this mission. "Listen up, men."
Skinner said as they entered French waters, "we have seven agents in
there, plus a little girl. We have a window of two hours to get in and
out. There is no room for error!"  The men listened carefully to his
words, following the instructions to the letter. "Sir, what if the agents
should fail to make it to the pier?" Someone asked.  "After the two hours
have passed, we are instructed to go home. With or without them." Skinner
obviously didn't like this order, and perhaps he would break it later. The
men watched their captain carefully as he mentally prepared them for the
final phase of the mission. Who knew how far the French would go to stop
Mulder and the others. 

             Dana had been going over the steam boat plans, memorizing
them. "What are you doing that for?" Mulder asked her from the bed. "Just
in case if anything should happen, I want to be able to reveal the plans
word for word."  He sighed, he was healing oh so slowly, and not much to
his liking. Dana looked over at him, "Fox... what is your disposition on
keeping Margaret with us? Be honest."  He turned his head to face her,
"Dana, we could raise her as our own..."  "We already have one on the
way." She reminded him, "I've brought two children into your life, one of
them isn't even yours." She looked down at the floor.  He sighed, "Come
here, Dana." He opened his arms to her.  She stood up and walked to him,
making herself comfortable at his side. "Dana, nothing could make me
happier than having a family with us. And Margaret is to be the cousin of
our children.... she is the daughter of your sister, I don't mind having
her wit h us. Where else will she go? I'm not going to hand her over to
the French!"  "But, if there was a way out of it, would you take it?" 
"No, Dana. She's a sweet heart. We'll raise her like our own and I don't
mind having two children in my life. In fact, let's have ten."  She went
stiff, "Ten! I don't think so."  He laughed, "Five, how is that?"  "Can we
get through this one first, then we'll talk." She smiled at him.  Mulder
wrapped her up in his arms tighter, "I wouldn't mind having a thousand
children or just two, as long as you are the mother and you are with me." 
She smiled, "I hope we don't have a thousand!" 

            Skinner had given specific instructions to go to a far away
port called Le Havre. It was days away, and they needed to arrive a day
early, just in case. Arrangements had been made by Langley so that they
could stay overnight at A Massif de Ros iers l'Hotel. While they were
preparing to leave, Eric helped Dana gather Fox's things. "I'll miss you
so much." He whispered.  Dana smiled at Eric, "I can never thank you
enough for helping me and my husband. We would have still been stuck in
those prisons. I would never be able to repay you for your kindness."  "It
was my pleasure, ma chere. J'aime vous."  She blushed, "I like you, too,
Eric."  "No, you don't like me the way I like you." He leaned in for a
kiss.  Dana went stiff, "Eric!"  He was about to kiss her again when a
knock on the door announced Mulder's arrival. "Dana, are you all right?" 
"I'm fine, darling." She called, gathering her things into the case and
snapping it shut. "I'm a married woman, Eric, please don't do this."  "Are
you really going to go with him? He and his people have caused you nothing
but trouble!"  She frowned at him, "I still love him, did you ever doubt
that?"  "You're so young, you don't understand things..."  "I understand
everything. Thank you for your aid." She retreated out the bedroom door
and to her husband, who waited down the hall for her. Eric watched the two
walk down the stairs, arms linked. He rolled his eyes at the sweetness, it
wasn't to be like t hat. He wasn't going to watch her throw her life away,
he had to change her mind. 

           Dana had trusted Eric with her life before, now she was very
uneasy. They had told him that they would be going to Le Havre, and they
would arrive a day early. Eric said good bye to all of them, he waved to
Margaret and tried to get Dana to loo k him in the eye. She reached for
Fox's hand, "Good bye, Eric, thank you for your help." She said.  Eric
nodded, "Au revoir, Dana. Good luck, Mulder."  Mulder said a thousand
thank you's and they were finally off. The two carriages rolled down the
hills to Le Havre. Dana, Mulder and Margaret sat in one carriage, Frohike
was driving. In the second carriage was Langley, Byers, Carrings and
Harrods, Langley
 had been driving. They stopped for the night at a small Inn, then started
again the next morning. They were due to arrive before dawn the on Friday.
Hopefully, with luck from God, they wouldn't be captured. 

            Mulder had collapsed into the bed as soon as they reached Le
Havre. Now they were at A Massif de Rosiers l'Hotel. Dawn came and the sun
rose, awaking the birds. Mulder woke up around nine, his eyes falling on
his wife, who sat at the window we aring nothing but a chemise. His breath
caught in his throat, she was so beautiful. Her auburn hair was down at
her shoulders, the chemise was very transparent in the light and she was a
vision. "I think that I've died and gone to heaven." He leered.  She
turned around, still frowning, "You're awake? You should rest some more,
Fox... we aren't due to leave for another two hours."  "I know, I know....
why don't you join me in this bed?" Under the quilt, he was wearing
nothing.  She shook her head, "No, I'm not sleepy."  "Who said anything
about sleep?" He reached for her hands.  She turned pink, "Fox, you can't
be serious! I... you're injured. I'll hurt your ribs!"  "I ache even more
when you aren't with me... please, Dana..." His voice trailed off.  She
looked at his pouting lips and gave in. Gently lowering herself onto the
bed, she leaned over him to give him a kiss, not the soft kiss she thought
he'd be expecting, but a hard one. One that left him breathless. "Dana." 
She smiled at him, stroking his hair, "You should rest, Fox."  "No." He
pulled her closer, kissing her neck.  She made the mistake of putting her
hand on his chest, and he cried out. "I'm sorry!" She pulled back, getting
off the bed.  "No, don't stop!" He hissed.  She crossed her arms over her
chest, "Shut up, Fox, I'm not falling for it this time.  I have to get
dressed."  "But you look good in a chemise." He grinned.  "Really? Maybe I
should go ask one of the fisherman at the pier?"  "Don't you dare." He
said seriously, trying to sit up.  Dana slipped her dress on, a gray dress
that was fairly plain and would help her blend in with the locals. She
braided her hair and put on her shoes, "Fox, if you aren't going to sleep,
get ready."  "I think you should help me." He whispered.  "With what?" 
"My bath."  She tossed a pillow in his direction, he caught it in his
quick hands, "Fox Mulder, if you are not dressed in half an hour, you'll
be very sorry."  He laughed, "I'm up, I'm up." Dana left the room to give
him privacy, and to not tempt herself. Margaret was alone in her own room,
wide awake and already had her clothes out. "Margaret, good morning." Dana
came in, closing the door behind her.  "Bonjour." the child said in
French.  Dana leaned against the dresser, "Did you never speak English
with your mother?"  "Daddy would not let me." She said. Dana had noticed
that Margaret's English was better worse than her French. "Mummy said
English to me." Margaret answered her, "Sometimes, though."  Dana nodded,
"Have you washed?"  The girl answered yes, so Dana helped her get into the
pretty green dress. She tied the ribbon in the back and did her hair in a
braid, "I think you should eat something, heaven knows when we'll get
again."  Margaret looked out the window, "Where are we going now?" 
"England, have you ever seen it?"  "No."  "Did your Mother ever tell you
about it?"  "No, Daddy wouldn't let her."  Dana's mouth fell open, "Well
child, you are half British, and you will see the home land. Come along,
down stairs everyone is waiting." 

            Less than an hour later, they were preparing to leave. Fox and
Dana were alone in their room, resting in each other's arms, "Dana, I wish
I could have taken you home sooner."  "You kept all your promises to me,
Fox." She kissed his nose, "I love you and I have no regrets... except
one."  "Melissa?"  "Of course. I have a family to find and put back
together, at least now I know where to start looking for my brothers."  He
kissed the crown of her head, "Come, Margaret and the others are down
stairs."  By the time Mulder opened the door to their room, Langley came
racing up to them, "SOLDIERS! French soldiers are prowling the city!
They've put up road blocks and guards wait at the pier."  Dana's eyes went
wide, "How did they know we were here? I don't understand this!"  Mulder
grabbed his pistol, "Make sure that the others are armed and ready. I will
take care of Dana and Margaret, you and Frohike take care of Byers. The
poor chap isn't stop enough to fight anyone."  Langley followed the
instructions and they all went out the back. A heavy fee was left for the
Inn owner, "But Monsieur, this is too much!" She insisted.  "This is for
you to keep silent." Mulder told her, "thank you for your hospitality." He
raced out the back door, where Dana and Margaret were waiting. The cases
had been loaded into the carriages, the race down to the pier would take a
twenty minutes, if all went without fault. "The ship is probably there by
now!" Langley said, helping Dana and Margaret out the door. Four armed
soldiers came down the back ally, guns aimed and ready to fire. Dana
grabbed Margaret and raced back to the house, "Stay away fro m here." He
told Dana, preparing to take the men on. Margaret was in a daze, watching
the scene unfold. Mulder had shot two of them, the third and run off for
help... the fourth had vanished. As he turned around, the missing solider
came at him with a boa rd, preparing to beat him senseless with it. Mulder
had no time to react, but Dana fired a pistol... causing the man to fall
down to his knees, choking. Mulder starred at his wife, who had the gun
firmly in her hand. "Dana? Are you all right?"  "Carrings DID teach me how
to use weapons, Fox." She handed him the pistol, then reached for
Margaret. Mulder was upset that she had not stayed off the line of fire,
but he was also grateful that she had such good aim. Langley lifted
Margaret up so she wo uldn't have to walk, "into the carriage, little
one." He pushed her in. "Do not move!" A voice shouted from the left. 
They all turned, Eric Saulnier was standing, in full dress uniform.
"Eric?" Dana asked, moving away from him. Marchand and Travenier appeared
from behind him, "Give me back my daughter." Travenier pointed a pistol at
Mulder.  Mulder shouted, "NEVER!"  Margaret recognized her father's voice,
she stuck her head out of the carriage to see. Travenier ordered that the
others pinned to the ground. The soldiers did as he said. The General
walked to the carriage, lifting Margaret up into his strong arms, "Have
 them arrested. For spying, murder and abduction." The General kept his
voice cool. "Thank you, Captain Saulnier, I would have never found
Margaret if you hadn't helped me."  Dana's mouth fell open, "ERIC!"  He
turned to look at Dana, pinned to the ground by a solider who had a gun in
her back. "I ask of only one thing, Sir."  "And what is that?" Marchand
asked.  "That Dana Scully be released to me." Eric kept a cool voice. 
Mulder started shouting and cursing at them, but Marchand nodded his head.
"Done, for your help, we give you Dana Scully. Taken a liking to her, have
you, Captain?"  "That, Sir, is an understatement." Eric whispered with a
smirk.  Dana was dragged to her feet and thrown into Eric's arms. He held
her tight while she tried to struggle, "You bastard! You son of a bitch!"
She shouted at him.  He only held her tighter, "I would have let them all
go if you had agreed to leave him and stay with me." He whispered in her
ear, sending shivers down her back. "So you had no intention of helping me
escape?"  He smiled at her, "Dana, I do love you, and I'm not going to let
you leave me."  "If you really loved me, you'd let me go." She hissed.  He
shook his head, "No, no, no."  "I am with his child!" She hissed.  "And
perhaps I'll let you keep the child, we'll have to wait and see."  Dana
slapped him across his face, "BASTARD!"  Marchand and Travenier turned
their backs, Marchand had enough and walked back to the solider wagon.
Travenier looked down at the people who had taken his daughter. "Mulder,
why was she so important to you?" He stroked his daughter's red hair. 
"She's a child!" Mulder snapped.  "I must know, were you and Dana having
an affair?"  Mulder could only concentrate on Saulnier and Dana, he had
her wrapped up in his arms and would not release her. His blood was
boiling, seeing another man's hands on his wife made him want to rip
Saulnier's throat out. Mulder looked up to see a man in a h at approaching
them. He was wearing a dark coat, boots and when he tilted his heat to the
right, Mulder could see who it was. <SKINNER!> Swiftly, the Mulder's
superior in the army took out a pistol, shoving it into the General's
back. "Monsieur, I suggest that you drop the girl."  Mulder could see that
the General was scared. Other British men revealed themselves. One of them
took Margaret's hand and walked her to the ship where they were all
waiting. Skinner kept the gun trained on Travenier, "You I will let live,
only if you coop erate."  "You can not take my daughter away from me!" The
General snapped.  "I already have, Sir, now please... if you'll come with
me."  The British men, plus Harrods, Carrings, Langley and Frohike, tired
the soldiers up in fisherman's cabin where the fish were stored. The smell
there was unbearable! Dana and Eric had vanished. When Skinner returned to
find Mulder in a frantic state, he re alized what had happened. "We'll
find her. Come, hurry!" They raced out to the street, it was too crowded
for them to single anyone out.

            Dana hadn't been able to cry out because Eric had her mouth
clamped shut with his hand. He pulled her down to the ground, "Stop
squirming or I'll beat you!"  She gasped for air, not able to say
anything. "Mulder must have been really good in the bed to make you want
to stay with him THIS badly!" Dana was furious that he had said that, she
shouted at the top of her lungs, only to be slammed into the ground again
by his hands. "Shut up!" He hissed. He got off her, walking to the corner
of the ally to see if anyone had heard. Dana cursed herself for
 giving Fox her pistol. When he came back, she had decided that the only
way to save herself was to kill him. And with is own gun. He lifted her up
to her feet, "Come on." She threw her arms around him, "I don't want to
die!"  "What are you babbling about?" He tried to pull back, but she
slipped her arms into his shirt. He let out a little gasp, "We can't do
this here...."  She pulled one of her hands out. Distracting him with the
other by going very south. He lost his thought and leaned against the
brick wall, letting her do what she pleased. Dana, her distracting hand
working harder, slipped the gun into her fingers and pu lled it out.
"Don't move, Eric!"  He turned red, from embarrassment or anger, she did
not know. He cursed lightly under his breath. She took the gun and pointed
it at his heart, "I'm sorry that we could hot be friends." He said. "The
only reason I helped you at the brothel all those years
 ago was to get you into my bed, apparently, you weren't all that
thankful."  "I do thank you for saving me from the brothel, and I don't
want to kill you..."  He pushed her away, digging his hands into her hair
and pulling her down to the ground once more. "I promised myself to have
you in my bed and I will!" She was screaming at the top of her lungs, the
gun still firmly in her hand, she shoved it into his sto mach and pulled
the trigger. He fell on top of her. Mulder and Skinner came racing down
from the end of the ally. Skinner pushed the body off of her, Mulder
lifted her up to his arms, "Dana?"  She remained calm, but was shaking
slightly. He kissed her temple, "My brave Dana, it's over.  You'll be all
right."  She looked back at Eric, then turned her head from the blood that
was now spilling on to the pavement. "I want to go home." She whispered. 


EPILOGUE: Seven Months Later

            Mulder had been reluctant to leave her side, she was pregnant
and the baby was due any day now. However, she had insisted that he finish
his work in the village, "Go, I'll be fine. I'll miss you, though." He
smiled at her, kissing her mouth so ftly, "I will come home by sunset." 
She nodded, "All right."  However, he wasn't able to make it by sunset.
The business had taken longer than he thought and Mulder wanted to buy her
a gift. The man showed him the necklace, "Emeralds fit for a Queen, Sir."
The British merchant smiled.  Mulder nodded, "Perfect for my queen, I'll
take them."  Frohike came racing into the shop, sweat forming on his brow,
"MULDER! Dana is having the child!"  Mulder had been mentally preparing
himself for this day, but it did him little good. He went into hysterics!
"I'll come for the rubies later, save them." He told the merchant,
following Frohike outside to the awaiting carriage. The rain was pouring
down o n top of them in buckets, and it was not at all what Mulder
expected when his child was born. They got in, the driver forcing the
horses to go faster and faster. When they finally reached Candor Abbey,
Mulder raced into the house, he stood in the foyer, c onfused for a minute
and dazed. He was about to run up to Dana's room, but Charles and William
Scully stood at the stair case, Byers and Langley beside them. "Has the
child been born yet?" He asked his friends in a state of panic.  William
Scully shook his head, "Not yet."  Mulder charged at the stair case, but
they blocked his path. "You should wait here, you'll only get in the way
of the midwife." Charles insisted.  Mulder pushed everyone out of his
path, "No, it's my wife and I'm going." They all watched him from the
bottom steps as he ran like a madman to Dana's door. He was furious when
he found that it had been bolted. He pounded on it, "OPEN THIS DOOR!"  The
midwife and Dana's maid, Shana, were in charge. "Who is it?" The midwife
snapped.  "I'm the Lord of this house, and if you don't open this door,
I'm breaking it down!" Shana, fearing for the door, unbolted it and let
him in. "Sorry, my Lord." She apologized. Mulder ignored her and went to
Dana, who was sobbing with the pain. Her skin sh inned in the candle light
with sweat, and her curls were tangled. "Fox, I knew you'd come." She
gasped for air.  He kissed her forehead, "I'm sorry, Dana, I shouldn't
have left."  She reached for his hand, "It's fine... oh!" She let out
another cry and Mulder wished more than anything that he could take the
pain for her. When he said this out loud, she laughed through the gasping,
"You'll die from it, Fox."  He kissed her small hands, "You're so strong,
Dana. Our little one will be here any second."  Dana sat up in the bed and
screamed, causing Mulder to jump! The midwife encouraged this, "Almost,
Lady Mulder, just a wee bit longer!"  Mulder sat up behind her, holding
her body up, stroking her hair, "It's all right, Dana, it's all right." 
Dana continued to scream with the pain, and finally her body went limp and
she collapsed against Mulder. He feared for a brief moment that she had
died! His heart in his throat he turned to look at her, her eyes were
open, she was pale but she was gasping
 for breath. He kissed her again, "You're wonderful, Dana."  The sound of
a child screaming caught his ears, he turned to look at the midwife, who
was wrapping the bundle up in a blanket, "A boy, my Lady. A son."  Mulder
couldn't describe the moment. His heart expanded ten times it's size and
he felt so proud. <A father! I'm a father!> The midwife went to go wash
the child, Shana closed the door leaving the two alone. Mulder hugged her,
"Sweet heart, are you well?"  "I don't know." She whispered.  He kissed
her face, over and over, "Your brothers are waiting down stairs to see
their nephew."  Dana nodded, "They've been here for weeks, William didn't
want to leave until he knew I was all right. Fox?"  "Hum?"  "Thank you,
for helping me find my brothers."  He molded her body against his, "It was
my pleasure, Lady Mulder. I'd bring you the moon if it made you happy." 
"I just want you." She whispered.  The child was brought back in, wailing
and screaming. Mulder rested his head on top of Dana's, Shana handed him
his son. "There you are, Sir. A little boy to be 'yer heir."  Mulder
looked down at his child, a small, pale little thing with closed eyes and
a strong set of vocal cords! Dana looked down at him, "Oh, my God." 
Margaret burst into the room, wanting to be the first to meet her new
cousin. Since she had started living at Candor Abbey, she had more
confidence around her aunt and new uncle. Dana showed her the baby, "Meet
my son, Margaret."  The little girl's mouth fell open, "Ohh... he's so
small!"  Dana laughed, "It sure didn't feel like that a few minutes ago."
The meaning of Dana's words escaped Margaret, but she didn't care. The
child was still crying, and Mulder stood up. Margaret walked towards the
window, watching the rain drops fall down from the heavens. She smiled,
she would never forget this picture. Th e rain pounding onto he house, and
their little miracle just come to earth. "What are you to name him?"
Margaret asked.  "Good question." Dana smiled, "Fox?"  "I don't have a
clue." He answered.  "Rayne!" Margaret announced.  She raised her brows,
"What about it?"  "No, Rayne shall be what we call him. Rayne Mulder... if
you want, Aunty Dana." She smiled.  Dana grinned, "That is a beautiful
name, Margaret." Mulder lifted the child up, he had stopped crying, but
now was whimpering. "Rayne William Mulder? After our father's?"  Dana
nodded, "It's so perfect."  The others could wait down stairs no longer,
Dana's brothers burst in through the door, eyes falling on the bundle that
Mulder held in his arms. "Dana!"  She smiled up at them, making herself
comfortable in the bed, "A boy. Rayne William Mulder."  Charles wrapped
his sister in an embrace, "Congratulations, Dana." The midwife, after
everyone had embraced the new parents, pushed the visitors out the door.
It was time for the child to feed. "Out, out!" She pushed the door closed
behind her. When Mulde r looked down at his wife, he saw her face stained
with tears, "Dana, what's wrong?" He asked, falling to her side.  She
shook her head, "Nothing, I'm so happy!"  Mulder nodded, "I know the
feeling, it's like my heart will burst any second from the joy."  "Fox, we
have a son." She whispered the statement.  "Maybe next time we'll be
blessed with a daughter."  "Don't talk about next time, I'm not ready
yet!" 

            They were in his bed, sound asleep. Mulder kissed his wife's
shoulder, they hadn't made love, they wouldn't be doing that for a long
time. Not until Dana was ready for it. Instead, they had retreated to each
other's arms for the night. To keep
 the cold out. He had a family! He, the man who used to love danger, was a
father and a husband! Dana stirred beside him, "Ahh." She whimpered.  He
turned her over, "Are you all right, Dana?"  "It still hurts a bit." She
admitted.  He wrapped her up in the quilt, "I imagine it does. Can I do
anything?"  "No...it's already passing."  "Dana, there is no way you'll
ever know how much I really love you. Thank you for giving me a child." 
She grinned, "Thank you for putting him there! I don't think I could every
love anyone more than my family."  Fox let out a sigh, "I bought you a
gift."  "Really?" "It's nothing compared to what you've given me, but I do
think that they'll look beautiful on you." He got out of the bed, reaching
for the cabinet where he had hidden the gift. A set of emeralds was
waiting for her in the box, "Oh, Fox! It's too much, yo u-"  "Put them
on." She pulled her hair up and let him clasp the back, "You look gorgeous
in them."  She smiled at him, "Thank you, Fox! You didn't have to."  "I
know, I wanted to." He pulled her into the bed beside him, yawning
slightly. "You need your rest... perhaps in a few months, we'll make the
bed a very interesting place." He laughed.  He was positive she was
blushing, even though he could not see her face. "Fox!"  "Yes, sweet
heart?"  "You are...."  "Amazing?"  "Yes." She answered.  "Handsome?"  "Of
course." She giggled.  "The most intelligent man to grace the Earth?"  "I
don't know about that..."  They laughed together until they fell asleep.
Home. Safe. With Family. Never again would Fox Mulder go to France, no
matter what. He was not going to risk it. France was part of his old
life... he felt as if he was reborn. 

THE END.