Title: Adieu

Author: Cathey Scully

Rating: PG

Spoilers: Season 9, nothing really explicit though.

Category: R, A, V

Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance

Summary: She knew the day would come eventually.

Archive: Sure, if ya want.  Just tell me where you're putting it.

Feedback: Please!  Even a small note is great!  CatheyScully@the-pentagon.com
or Scully@ga.prestige.net

Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, Maggie, Skinner, Doggett, and Baby William aren't 
mine.  Don't sue me dammit!

Notes: I thought this up on the way to ballet.

*	*	*

She'd known that this day would come eventually.  She knew that one day she'd 
go to visit, and they'd be gone.  Now as she surveyed the bare apartment, her 
earlier musings came rushing back.  Deep down in her mind, she panicked.  
What if she hadn't left willingly?  What if they'd been hurt and this was 
someone's way of covering up?

Her thoughts stopped abruptly when she entered  the bedroom.  It was vacant, 
save for the pristine white envelope resting against the windowsill.  With 
trembling fingers, she reached out and clasped the envelope, bringing it 
tightly into her chest.

Steeling her emotions, she slid to the floor.  This was the letter she 
dreaded receiving.  After a few moments, she nudged the envelope open with a 
perfectly manicured nail.  Pulling out a sheet of simple notebook paper, she 
unfolded it and began to read the curvy, precise handwriting.

"Mom,

	I know this is going to be one of the hardest letters you'll read, 
	and I'm so sorry.  It was hard to write too.  As hard as it is to put 
	on paper, this is something that we both knew was inevitable.

	I can't and won't say much about where we're going.  We both know why 
	we've left, though.  This separation from Mulder is killing both of 
	us.  Albeit slowly, but its become too painful.  We've lost the 
	ability to stay safe; the need to be together is overpowering our 
	judgment and we're putting not only ourselves at risk, but also those 
	we love.

	Please don't worry about us, Mom.  We'll be okay.  I've put all our 
	things in storage with Mulder's belongings, and the lease on this 
	place is paid until the end of the month.  After that, it's okay to 
	let it go.

	Please don't let Skinner or Doggett or anyone look for me and 
	William.  We won't be found.  When it's safe we'll be back, all of 
	us.

	I love you mom.  William loves you too.  Stay safe, please.  Keep us 
	in your prayers.
						Love Forever,
							Dana & William"

Maggie wiped her eyes, trying to clear the tears from her vision.  Dana was 
gone.  Her only remaining daughter was gone.  Dana had taken her son and left 
to be with Mulder; the father of her child.  At this, Maggie smiled.  Dana 
hadn't been happy in months.  Mulder made Dana happy.  Who was she to deny 
her child happiness?

Maggie stood and was surprised to find that she was shaking.  She looked 
around Dana's empty apartment and felt a few more hot tears run down her 
cheeks.  After a few moments, she wiped her face again and sent a quick 
prayer for Dana and William's safety.  Her daughter would come home when she 
could.  Hopefully Fox would be in tow.

Maggie walked to the door, clutching Dana's letter against her chest.  Taking 
one last look around, she closed the door and walked away.

End.  What'd you think?