Chapter 3 part 2
Crystal Palace
Friday, September 22
9:40 a.m.Doctor Pendrell had a sheet draped over River's small body as the boy lay on his side upon the exam table. Alex stood by the head of the table holding the little boy's hand and petting his head as he whispered reassuring words to him. Doctor Pendrell smoothed the sheet back over River's body and peeled off his rubber gloves. "He's perfectly fine, Alex," he said. He had been checking for signs of sexual abuse. "You can get him dressed. I should have the results back from the genetic tests later this afternoon."
Krycek was openly relieved as he helped River sit up and started getting him dressed. "Kyle, can I have a word with you in private?" They hadn't told the doctor their suspicions about River being a pre-immortal. He thought it would be better if the doctor knew and did the genetic tests himself instead of sending it off to the lab.
"Sure, Alex. River can join Mulder and your girls in the waiting room."
River had been unusually quiet throughout the exam. Krycek was a little concerned. "River, would you be okay waiting with Daddy Fox?" he asked, lacing the little boy's shoes.
River just nodded.
Krycek sighed, and hugged the boy. "River, what's wrong?"
River shook his head, not wanting to talk.
"River, I can't help you if you don't tell me what is wrong."
River started crying. "He h-h-hurt me and you didn't s-stop him. I thought you would protect me."
Alex scooped the little boy into his arms. "Oh, baby, Doctor Pendrell was only giving you an exam. He needed to take a blood sample and vaccinate you against diseases. I'm sorry I should have explained it to you before hand, so you knew what to expect. I'm so sorry, River. Forgive me?"
This was the first time anyone had ever apologized to River and it puzzled him. He didn't know what to make of a grownup asking for his forgiveness; he thought that he liked it. "I-I, okay."
"Good. I'll take you out to Daddy Fox."
Mulder stood, setting Hope on her feet as Alex carried River into the waiting room. It was obvious to him that the little boy had been crying. "Alex, what happened?" He took the little boy from Alex and River wrapped his arms around Mulder's neck and his legs around Mulder's waist just above his belly, clinging desperately to Mulder, River started sobbing again and buried his face into Mulder's shoulder.
"I didn't think to explain what was going to happen in the doctor's office. He's upset because Kyle gave him a couple of shots, checked him for sexual abuse, and took a blood sample."
Mulder was a little surprised. "Alex, I only wanted him to be genetically tested, I wasn't bringing him here to be vaccinated and probed."
"I'm sorry, Fox, but he needed to be checked and he should have been vaccinated two years ago. I have to go back and talk to Kyle for a few minutes." Krycek turned and headed back to the exam room.
Mulder sighed, he knew Alex was right, but he didn't want River to go through all of that at once. "River, ssh, it's going to be okay. Remember we talked about the doctor taking the blood sample from you, its what will determine what you are going to be when you grow up. You would have had to have the shots eventually, they are to protect you from catching any nasty diseases." He sat back in the chair repositioning the little boy on his knees. God, what he wouldn't give to have his lap back.
"Wifuw, no cry," Faith said, climbing up on the chair next her daddy and the little boy.
River turned his head and looked at her. "I-I'm not crying, only babies cry."
"Wifuw cry," Faith said.
"I do not!"
"Ssh, River, it's okay to cry. I still cry when I'm sad or hurt. You don't think I'm a baby do you?" Mulder asked.
"You really cry?" River asked, surprised.
"Yes. It is good to be brave and strong, but it is okay to cry, too."
"Thanks, Daddy."
"Why don't you play with your sisters while we wait for Daddy Alex to return." Mulder set the boy on his feet, then lifted Faith off the chair and set her on the floor. River took her hand and they went over to play with Hope who was stacking building blocks.
Alex came back into the waiting room, and sat next to Mulder. "How's he doing?"
"He's fine, Alex. This is all very new to him, it is going to take him a while to adjust." Mulder reached over and grasped Alex's hand. "He doesn't blame you."
Alex leaned over and kissed Mulder on the lips. "Thanks, Fox. Shall we take them to the playground now? After all, it is one of the reasons we're playing hooky from work."
Mulder stood and clapped his hands together. "C'mon, munchkins, it's time to go to the playground."
Hope dropped her block and came running over. "Play!"
***
Andy Nelson submitted his request for two weeks of vacation. He wasn't too thrilled about the trip he was going to make to White Mountain, but if his plans to get rid of Mulder were to be successful, he had to directly deal directly with the Batman.
"Andy, be careful on the mainland. If it was me, I'd go to New York," Agent Donovan said, approving his request.
"Don't worry, I plan to be very careful. I'm going to be visiting a friend out west," Nelson said, heading out the door.
***
Crystal Palace
Friday, September 22
6:00 p.m.Mulder sat stiffly in his chair at the head of the dining room table, his head was pounding over the noise level in the room. Everyone seemed to be talking at once. Walter and Alex were discussing Walter's attempts to contact CGB Spender. Their nannies were all chatting amicably with each other. River had made instant friends with Yori and Lev's son Sammy and the two boys were asking nonstop questions of each other. Yori's other boys were equally noisy and Hope was chattering away, the only one who was quiet was Faith.
"Boys, quiet down!" Yori shouted as he rolled the serving cart into the room. He winked over at Mulder who smiled back gratefully at him as the room became quiet.
Lev helped Yori distribute the meals. He set a covered plate in front of River. Lifting the lid, the little boy's eyes grew huge; the plate was overflowing. River didn't think he could eat so much food.
Krycek read his mind. "Eat as much as you can, River. I'm sure one of the bigger boys will be happy to finish what you have left."
"I call dibs on it," Chris shouted. "Don't worry, River, send anything you can't eat down my way."
Mulder wasn't feeling too well, looking down at the stuffed cabbage rolls, boiled parsley potatoes, and lima beans, made him feel nauseous. He set his napkin down and got up from his chair.
"Fox, what's wrong?" Skinner asked.
"I'm feeling a little sick. I just need to lie down for a bit."
"Vicky, Melissa, Sean, take care of the children, please," Skinner said, as he and Krycek set their napkins down and stood to follow Mulder.
"Guys, stay and eat. I'll be fine on my own. I'm only going back to our bedroom."
Skinner hooked an arm around his back and steered Mulder out the door. "We're sure you'll be fine, but we are going with you."
Mulder sighed; he didn't feel up to arguing. Therefore, he allowed his lovers to help him back to their room.
"Is your back hurting you again?"
"Yes, and my feet, my nipples, my skin itches, not to mention I have a headache," he complained.
"Poor, baby. A think another hot bath is in order and we'll be sure to massage your feet," Skinner said.
Mulder just wanted to lie down and sleep, but he allowed his lovers to steer him up the steps to their bathroom. He didn't even protest when they stripped him and lovingly caressed his body. Mulder was no longer self-conscious about how he looked. Both Walter and Alex went out of their way to make him feel attractive and sexually desirable. When the bathtub finished filling they helped him down the steps into the hot water. Mulder forgot about his desire to lie down as the water soothed his aching joints and limbs.
Walter sat behind him and massaged the aching muscles in his neck, while Alex took care of his feet. He didn't know when Walter's talented fingers made the trek from his neck down to his penis, but he was being skillfully jerked off. After several skillful twists and strokes his body arched up and he came as all tension drained out of him.
"Feel better, babe?" Skinner whispered in his ear.
"Mm, yes, my headache is completely gone and I no longer feel sick."
"Good, because you have one more spot that needs to be massaged." Skinner fingers delved into Mulder's cleft and found his anus.
"Oh God, Walter," Mulder moaned, leaning back against his chest. The only benefit of his current condition was that his anus and rectum had become more sensitive to stimulation. For the first time in his life, he had become truly multi-orgasmic, and to top it off, he was now hornier than hell.
Krycek mouth lowered over his nipple, sucking and teasing it with his teeth. "Are your nipples still sore, Fox?" he asked, between swipes with his tongue.
Mulder shook his head; even if they were, he was too far-gone to notice. His fingers laced through Alex's silky hair holding his head against his chest as he knelt on the bottom seat while Skinner's fingers prepared him. Skinner's large hands spread his legs apart and he mounted Mulder. Mulder let out a strangled, joyful sob as his lover's cock slid into him rubbing against the sensitive walls of his rectum.
Krycek had shifted up so Mulder could rest his head on his shoulder and he could support Mulder's upper body as Skinner fucked him. They had become very careful of Mulder's welfare when having sex with him. They didn't want to chance hurting him or the babies by being too rough.
Mulder sighed with delight as he rested his head on Krycek's strong shoulder, welcoming his physical support. The feel of Skinner's massive organ opening him up and sliding deep inside him was the most pleasurable sensation he had ever felt. It lessened all of the aches and pains he had felt all day. "Harder, Walter," he gasped.
"Don't be a backseat driver, Fox. I'm going hard enough, just relax and enjoy," Skinner ground out. The walls of Mulder's rectum were squeezing and contracting around his organ sending waves of pleasure throughout his body. He had never experienced anything like it before Mulder was pregnant. Just one of the added benefits that he and Alex got to enjoy.
Mulder cried out, he was coming as Skinner continued to thrust relentlessly into him. The surge of his orgasm went on for countless moments. Just when it was ebbing, Skinner was coming and the force of his lover's orgasm sent Mulder over the edge again.
Skinner didn't slow down after his first orgasm; he continued to plow into Mulder. He knew that nothing helped Mulder sleep better than being fully sated, and he was determined to totally exhaust his lover.
The pressure of his lover's massive cock buried deep inside brushing against his sensitive prostate was too much for Mulder and he was soon becoming erect again.
An hour had passed and Skinner and Krycek had switched places. The sound of Mulder's gentle snoring told them that they had been successful in getting their lover to sleep. "Walter, I think we can put sleeping beauty to bed now," Krycek said, pulling reluctantly out of Mulder's body.
Skinner turned off the heaters in the bathtub and pulled the plugged. He used his powers to dry Mulder before they carried him back to their bed.
"So, what are we going to do about River?" Krycek asked, sitting on the edge of the bed watching Mulder sleep.
"What do you mean?"
"The test results are back on River. Do we tell him that he is a pre-immortal, or keep him in the dark until he is older?" Krycek asked.
"I hate lying to the little guy, but we can't take the chance of anyone else finding out about him."
"Okay, so what do you want to tell him?"
"Let's just tell River that he is not going to be a sorcerer, clairvoyant, ghoul, or a n'thral. We don't have to tell him anymore than that; he'll just assume that he is going to be human. That way we aren't directly lying to him," Skinner said.
"Sounds reasonable," Krycek replied.
***
Crystal Palace
Sunday, October 15
2:00 p.m."SURPRISE!!"
"Oh, Daddy, it's a party!" River cried out, looking around at all the people and the huge cake sitting in the middle of the table. Colorful balloons and crepe paper hug from everywhere and there was music playing over the speakers.
Krycek chuckled, holding River's hand as the little boy excitedly bounced up and down. "River, it's not just a party. It's your birthday party. Do you see that big sign? It says Happy Fifth Birthday River."
"Really, for me?"
"Yes, for you. Why don't you go thank Daddy Walter and Daddy Fox."
River smiled and raced across the room to where Mulder and Skinner stood with the other guests. He threw himself into Skinner's arms. "Thank you, Daddy!"
Skinner hugged him. "You're welcome, son."
"Thank you too, Daddy Fox," River said, looking over to Mulder.
Mulder brushed the hair out of the little boy's eyes. "Were you surprised?"
"Yes, very surprised. Are all those presents mine?" he whispered.
Mulder chuckled. "You're the only birthday boy here, so I'd say that is a big yes."
"Cool! There are so many more people and presents than were at your birthday party, Daddy. If you want to have some of my presents you can."
Skinner chuckled. "River, Daddy Fox's party was small because he asked us not to have a large one for him." Skinner carried River a little ways away from Mulder and whispered. "But just between you and me, Daddy Alex and I are going to have a very big party next year for Daddy Fox when he turns forty." He set River back on the floor as Scully walked over to them and smiled at Skinner then looked down at River.
"Happy birthday, River. Do you like your party so far?" she asked.
"Yes! There are so many people, Scully." River had taken to using Mulder's name for her, when almost everyone else referred to her as Dana. "Is Mikey going to have a big party?"
"Mikey will have a big party, but nothing as big as this."
Sammy came running over with Matthew Scully. "River, cool party! Let's play."
"Okay. Bye, Scully."
River ran off with the two boys.
Mulder came over stopping at their side as they watched the boys race across the dining hall. "Have you ever seen so much energy? Those three will be going nonstop until bedtime," he chuckled.
Skinner smiled at him and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I'm going to chat with some of our other guests. If you need anything holler."
Scully watched Skinner leave then turned to Mulder. "How are you doing, Mulder?" she asked, concerned. Mulder was no longer able to work; his pregnancy was taking too much out of him. Therefore, Scully didn't get as much time to talk to him as she had in the past.
Mulder shrugged his shoulders. "I feel like crap most of the time...and sometimes I feel extremely embarrassed," he sighed. "I haven't had to shave in over two weeks, my hormones are all fucked up."
"Lack of facial hair was one of the things Justin complained about the most. But it did grow back after he had the baby, so I'm sure it will for you, too. How are Walter and Alex handling your pregnancy?"
Mulder smiled. "If it weren't for them I'd be going out of my mind. They have been very supportive and loving. I think my sex life is better now than it was before I was pregnant. I just wish I didn't feel and look like a beached whale."
Krycek came over carrying a plate brimming with food from the buffet table. "Fox, you have to try the lox and cream cheese on rye," he said, holding the plate so Mulder could pick up the little tea sandwich. "Dana, would you like one?" He held the plate out to her and she selected a little sandwich. "Fox has been having cravings for seafood lately."
"Mm, this is good. What else did you bring us?" Mulder asked, looking back on the plate and using the plastic fork to select a slice of pickled herring.
"Why don't we go sit down at one of the tables," Scully suggested as she grabbed some cheese and crackers off the plate.
"Sounds like a plan." Krycek led them over to a round table where they were soon joined by Hans, Frohike, Langly, and Byers.
"That is some fine spread you guys put out, Mulder," Frohike said, setting down two plates. One was overflowing with shrimp. "How's the lovely Dana today?"
"I'm fine, Frohike."
"What's your opinion of arranged marriages?" Frohike went on.
"I think they're barbaric. Why?" Scully reached over and selected a strawberry off Krycek's plate.
"I was thinking that my Marsha and your Mikey would make a good couple."
"Frohike, they're not even a year old yet. How can you make such an asinine assumption?"
"You forget that I am a clairvoyant, and I sometimes can see the future," Frohike said casually, he picked up a shrimp and dunked it in some cocktail sauce. "Have you ever wondered about the origin of the word cocktail?"
Everyone turned and stared at him.
Mulder started chuckling. "I could see you and Scully as in-laws, Frohike. Oh and there are seven different stories involving the origin of the word cocktail."
Hans smiled. "Dana, I think it would be really nice if our daughter ended up marrying your son."
Scully smiled at him. She could easily put up with Frohike for Hans sake. "We'll let them make that decision, Hans."
Mulder looked around at the crowd of family and friends. He lost himself in thought and daydreams of the future. He came back to the present and smiled as he watched Walter holding River, while the whole room sang happy birthday to him and the little boy blew out the candles on the cake.
The present opening passed slowly. When River was on the last one Krycek got up and excused himself. He came back a few minutes later holding a German Shepherd puppy with a bow around its neck. Mulder felt the world spin. The puppy had the same markings of Rex, his dog for a few brief months.
River squealed with delight and ran over to Krycek. "Daddy, is he mine?"
"Yes, all yours. But you have to promise to help take care of him," Krycek said, handing the boy the puppy.
"Oh yes, Daddy, I'll take really good care of him."
Skinner knelt next to them, he looked over to the table where Mulder sat, and realized how hard this must be for him. "That is a really nice puppy, River. Why don't you take him over to meet your friends? I need to have a word with Daddy Alex."
"Okay! Come on, Rex, I'll introduce you to Sammy and Matthew."
Tears streamed down Mulder's cheeks when he heard the name River had given his puppy. He wiped at his eyes and Frohike looked over at him sympathetically. "Come on, Mulder, I'll help you back to your apartment."
Scully and Hans were confused. They had no idea why Mulder was suddenly crying and being led out of the dining hall by Frohike.
Krycek was irate. "Walter, why haven't you ever told me this before? I'd never have gotten River a puppy if I knew about Fox and this dog he owned."
"Alex, it wasn't just a dog, it was a German Shepherd named Rex, and its markings were similar to the puppy you got River. I can't believe River named the puppy Rex."
"It's not strange. One of his storybooks has a puppy named Rex in it," Alex said. "I'll go talk to Fox." He started back to the dining hall then stopped and headed toward the elevator instead.
When he arrived in their bedroom he found Frohike sitting on the bed and Mulder curled up on his side. "Don't you guys ever talk?" Frohike grumbled as he stood up to leave.
"Fox, I'm sorry. I didn't know about Rex . . .Walter just told me the whole tale."
"God, Alex, it still hurts so much. I can still see that n'thral crushing Rex's body. He sacrificed his life for me, you know."
"No, I didn't. You never told me much about that time in your life." Krycek lay behind him and wrapped his arms around Mulder's body, resting his hand on his belly. "I'm sorry about Rex. I will give the puppy away if it will make you feel better."
Mulder laced his fingers through Alex's fingers. "No. Don’t. I'll get over it. It was just a shock."
"Do you want to go back down to the party?"
"Yeah, just give me a few minutes." Mulder lay silently remembering his dog for nearly a half-hour. This dog wasn't his Rex; it was only a puppy. He had to get over his grief for River. "Okay. Let's go back down."
***
Crystal Palace
Sunday, December 10
7:00 p.m.Mulder stood in front of the closed glass door to the veranda watching the snowflakes drift past the outside floodlights. His hand rested on his immense belly as he worried his bottom lip. He was trembling uncontrollably.
"Fox, come to dinner," Skinner said, walking up behind him. He was concerned about Fox. His lover was six days overdue and having a harder and harder time sleeping at night. Walking alone had become a chore for him. Either he or Alex had to be with Fox wherever he went. Their doctor had suggested that he swim and walk more, hoping that it would speed things along, but as the days passed Fox only got grumpier and would breakdown weeping for seemingly no reason, so Walter and Alex had to walk around him very carefully. Skinner's hands caressed his shoulders. "Hey, Babe, you're shaking like a leaf."
"I think I'm in labor," Mulder whispered not taking his eyes off the falling snow.
"How long? Are you having contractions? How far apart are they?" Skinner asked excitedly.
"Wa-Walter, I-I don't think I ca-can do this," he said with a quiver in his voice.
"Fox, it's going to be all right. This is the day we've been waiting for." Skinner rubbed Mulder's back as he spoke soothingly to him.
"Walter, couldn't you just teleport them out?"
"No. Fox, I'm afraid that could hurt them or I might teleport out too much and injure you. Then there are your body's built-in defenses, it might not allow outside interference. I'm sorry but we're going to have to do this the natural way," Skinner said, wrapping his arms around Mulder from behind.
Mulder threw him off, stepping away from his touch. "What the *hell* do you mean WE! Are you going to be pushing out three bowling balls through your bellybutton?" he snapped.
"No, but I will be there for you. And, Fox, I love you, and it does kill me to see you in pain."
Mulder's arms wrapped around his middle just above his belly, he was fidgety. "G-God, Walter, I-I'm terrified! This is it. I'm actually going to have them..." He suddenly groaned as a mild contraction coursed through his belly, he grimaced and bent over briefly.
"How far apart, Fox?" Skinner asked anxiously. He didn't like seeing Fox in pain and Walter was suddenly worried that he'd be like one of those men who passed out during the birth.
"I don't know. Maybe ten minutes." Mulder rubbed his belly trying to ease the discomfort away.
"Fox, how long have you been in labor?" Skinner asked softly.
"I-I think since last night, but I wasn't sure until a few hours ago. I thought it was only gas pains at first, but then I started to notice that the cramps were coming at pretty even intervals."
"I'm contacting Doctor Pendrell...he wanted you in as soon as your labor started." Skinner telepathically contacted the doctor and Alex.
"Walter, I don't want to have my babies in an isolation room," Mulder said sadly, stepping back over to the window to look outside at the snow. He fought back tears.
Walter waked over and hugged him. Then he turned Mulder so he could kiss him comfortingly on the lips. "I know, Fox. Don't worry; you'll never know the room is anything but a bedroom. I've taken care of everything."
"Hey, are you okay?" Alex asked, dashing into the room.
Mulder pulled away from Walter. "No. I feel like crap and I'm scared out of my fucking mind."
"We'll be here for you, Fox," Alex said, wrapping his arms around Mulder from behind, and caressed his belly. "Just think, this time tomorrow I'll be able to get my arms all the way around you."
Mulder grumbled, "With my luck I'll probably still be in labor."
"I doubt that, Fox, if your contractions are only ten minutes apart it might be only a few more hours," Skinner said. "Let's go. We can call our friends from the hospital."
Mulder sighed as he allowed Walter and Alex to help him out of their bedroom and to the elevator. Both men had an arm around Mulder's back and a hand on his arm.
Arty's voice came to life as the elevator descended. "Prince Fox, now don't you worry about a thing I'll watch the girls and River closely while you are gone. Just concern yourself with delivering our new family members."
"Who's been messing with your programming, Arty?" Mulder asked suspiciously.
"Can't I show a little concern without the third degree, Sweetie?"
"It is a first, but thank you for your concern," Mulder replied.
They exited the elevator and took the access tunnel to the horizontal lift. Skinner and Krycek helped ease Mulder down into the seat. Mulder closed his eyes and clenched his hands as he rode out another mild contraction as the lift whisked them to the hospital section. Doctor Pendrell met them at the lift with a wheelchair and they helped Mulder in to it. Mulder didn't complain. His feet were killing him and it felt good to get off them for a while.
Mulder frowned when they arrived on the delivery floor and they wheeled him through two sets of airtight doors. "Walter, I thought you said I wouldn't know that I was in an isola..." Mulder stopped talking as he was wheeled into an elegantly furnished bedroom. Against one wall was an area to bathe the infants and three incubators were arranged in a row in preparation for their arrival.
"What do you think, Babe?" Skinner asked. "I even had them install a television to help pass the time. In this room we have a shower and a bath."
"Walter, it is very nice," Mulder said, surprised.
"Prince Fox, please get undressed. Then I want you to hop up on the bed, I want to check how dilated you are," Pendrell said, helping Mulder out of the wheelchair and over to the bed.
"I'm not hopping up on anything in this condition," Mulder quipped as he started to undress with help from Alex. Then Alex helped him on with a white, terrycloth robe over his boxers. He turned with his back to the bed. "Walter, Alex, can you give me a hand?" His lovers put a hand under each armpit then one around his thighs and lifted him on to the bed.
"Okay, lie back and relax this isn't going to hurt," Pendrell said as he pushed open the robe and probed Mulder's belly. One of the male nurses stood next to the bed waiting to assist the doctor if necessary.
The bed was raised, so Mulder's upper body was at a forty-five degree angle. He watched as the doctor inserted a gloved finger into his navel. "I wish you would have come in sooner, Prince Fox," the doctor scolded realizing how far along he was. He removed his finger and walked over to the equipment cart and retrieved the blood pressure equipment.
"I was trying to figure out a way to get out of coming in all together," Mulder confessed.
"So how long does he have, Kyle?" Walter asked
"It shouldn't be too much longer. He's at three centimeters."
"Can't you narrow it down?" Mulder groaned.
Pendrell smiled at him and ignored the question. "Prince Fox, how are you feeling?" he asked. He had attached sensors to Mulder's belly and was monitoring the contractions and the babies' heart rates as he took Mulder's blood pressure then checked his heart rate.
"My back and feet are killing me and I need to pee."
"Good, I could use a urine sample. Nurse, would you bring a urinal over and assist Prince Fox," Pendrell said.
"Yes, Doctor." The nurse walked over to a cart and pulled out a plastic urinal from the bottom drawer, and he carried it back to the bed.
Mulder blushed as the bottle was positioned between his thighs. The nurse smiled reassuringly at him then reached his gloved hand into Mulder's boxers and grasped his penis, positioning it over the opening of the bottle. Mulder was no longer able to reach his own penis, so he couldn't protest the nurse doing it for him. His bladder was momentarily bashful and it took several minutes before he started peeing. After Mulder was done, the nurse tucked his penis back in and carried the container into the bathroom. A few minutes later the toilet flushed and the nurse came back into the room with the empty urinal.
Pendrell monitored Mulder's contractions for thirty minutes, before removing the sensors. "I would suggest taking a nice hot shower with your husbands. They can give you a massage while you're in there and it will help to kill a little time and help you relax."
Mulder clenched Alex's hand as he experienced another contraction. "A shower sounds good," Mulder said, and his lovers helped him off the bed and into the bathroom, removing his robe and boxers.
Walter and Alex stripped then stepped into the shower with him. Skinner pulled down the plastic bench and Mulder gratefully sat on it as the hot water pounded his sore flesh. Walter knelt at his feet and started to massage them while Alex stood next to his side and took care of his back, hips, and shoulders. The heat from the water and Walter and Alex's ministrations seemed to make the contractions less painful and Mulder closed his eyes, allowing himself to drift off. He wasn't sure how much time had past when he was awakened by a finger entering his navel.
Pendrell knelt beside the chair, checking Mulder's current dilation. Mulder wondered how long he had been out. It must have been a while because Walter and Alex were dressed, and Alex was drying him with a towel.
"You're still at three centimeters, Prince Fox. If you're up to it, I would suggest that you take a walk to help speed things up," Pendrell said, standing. "I have to check on some things. I'll be back in an hour to check in on you." Pendrell turned and left the bathroom.
Alex helped Mulder to his feet while Walter helped him back on with boxers and robe.
Skinner kissed Mulder softly. "You're doing really well, Fox," he murmured.
"You don't suppose it would be possible for me to sleep throughout it?" Mulder asked as they led him to the bathroom door. He made it three steps and doubled over as a painful contraction hit.
"Oh, damn, that one hurt," he gasped. "How long were we in the shower?"
"About forty-five minutes. We would have gotten out sooner, but we didn't want to wake you."
A couple of male nurses were in the room getting things set up. Mulder nodded in greeting to them and they smiled back. Mulder noticed that the bed had been lowered and there was a plastic sheet on the lower half where his belly would be positioned.
"We thought that you'd prefer to start off on your side instead of your back. Would you like to lie down now or do as Kyle suggested and go for a stroll around the hospital? Walking might help move things along quicker," Krycek said.
Mulder frowned at the prospect of lying down for one or more hours. Although, he didn't relish the idea of walking in his present condition, it sounded preferable to lying in bed waiting. "A stroll?"
"Good." Krycek knelt and helped Mulder step into a pair of ugly slippers with smiley faces on them, and they left the room.
Skinner and Krycek stayed protectively at Mulder's sides; each had a hand on his arm and one in the center of his back as they walked slowly down the hallway. They stopped a couple of times to wait out a contraction, holding him securely and murmuring soothing words to him.
"Don't worry, Fox, we have you. Try concentrating on how happy our children will be to see the new babies," Krycek said, rubbing his back.
Mulder was worried; it felt like the baby could pop out at any moment so he kept a hand over his navel just in case as he slowly shuffled down the hallway. His bladder was empty but still the pressure on it gave him the feeling like he had to pee.
As they passed by the waiting room Scully came rushing out, she was followed by several of their friends who were camping out waiting. "Mulder, how are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm fine," he said, trying to but on a brave front, but failing miserably.
Scully petted his arm reassuringly. "Kyle was by and said it shouldn't be much longer. Don't worry, Mulder, the pain is insignificant when compared with the end product. When you set your eyes on your new daughters nothing else will matter," she assured.
"Thanks, Scully." Mulder thought that was easy for her to say, she wasn't in labor. He cried out and doubled up in pain. That contraction felt different from the others it was more of a pulsating pain, like being squeezed from the inside. When he caught his breath, he gasped, "Ah...Guys, I think we better get me back to the room." The front of his robe was stained with pink fluids.
"Oh my God! Hold on, Fox!" Skinner shouted. A wheelchair magically appeared behind Mulder, and Krycek quickly helped him to sit. Skinner's palms were sweaty as he realized that this was it.
Scully stifled a smile as she watched the panic looks on Walter's and Alex's faces. "Guys, just because Mulder's leaking some fluids that doesn't mean he is going to have the baby right away."
"Ah, yeah, right, we know that, Dana," Skinner said uncertainly. He quickly followed behind Alex as he wheeled Mulder back to the room and notified the doctors of the situation telepathically. Pendrell came rushing in as they were positioning Mulder on his side on the bed.
He assisted them removing Mulder's robe and covered his body with a sheet. Alex sat cross-legged at the head of the bed and cradled Fox's head in his lap and whispered reassurances, while Skinner sat behind Mulder massaging his shoulders. Pendrell pasted the sensors onto Mulder's chest and belly, while the nurse inserted an IV. Then he checked Mulder's dilation.
"Well, that was quick, Prince Fox, you're already dilated to seven centimeters," the doctor said.
Mulder looked tiredly at him. His face was pale after the scare in the hallway. He then glanced over at the nurses and the other doctor. "Don't you have to put on your biohazard suits?"
"We decided that the suits would be too cumbersome. There is a team standing by just in case we run into problems."
Mulder sensed that wasn't the real reason, but he was in too much pain to argue. He felt they were only doing it to make this delivery easier for him to bear.
"Fox, focus on this." Alex held a photograph of Hope and Faith in front of Mulder's eyes. "Just think about how happy they will be with their new sisters. Now breathe, in through your nose then out through your mouth. That is it, Fox. Just like that." He gently caressed Mulder's shoulder.
Skinner watched the monitor as another contraction was starting. "Okay, Fox, take a deep breath." He soothingly massaged Mulder's back throughout it. "You're doing really well, Fox, it won't be much longer."
Mulder was in a daze as he listened to Skinner and Krycek's voices. The pain was unbelievable and he was feeling light-headed and feared that he might pass out. He tried to do as Alex asked and lose himself in memories of his little girls, but the pain would always bring him crashing back to reality.
"Prince Fox, how are you feeling?" Pendrell asked.
"My back hurts," he whimpered.
Pendrell looked up at Skinner. "Your Majesty, you'll need to apply a little pressure to his back. Make a fist and press it into his lower back. Prince Fox will tell you when you found the right spot," he advised.
"Lower, Walter," Mulder said. "Yeah, right there."
Pendrell nodded at Skinner. "Now apply pressure to that spot during his contractions."
Krycek looked up at the clock. A full hour and a half had passed since they brought Fox back to his room. He couldn't stand to see Fox in so much pain and he kept looking at his lover's distended belly and hoping that the baby would just pop out. His fingers combed through Fox's sweat-soaked hair. When the next contraction ripped through Fox's body, his lover arched up as a gusher of fluids spilled out of his navel collecting on the plastic tarp.
Pendrell knelt beside the bed. "You're doing excellent, Prince Fox. The first baby's head has crowned...I want you to push with the next contraction." He had one hand on Mulder's belly and waited to support the baby when she came out.
Skinner held his breath as the monitor showed the next contraction starting. "Take a deep breath and push, Fox," he coached, and applied pressure with his fist to Fox's lower back. He watched as the tiny infant was being expelled from his lover's expanded navel. His belly contorted and contracted as the doctor helped guide the baby out then pulled her the rest of the way out. This was the seraph's baby. She looked human except she had small wings on her back. Skinner watched Pendrell use a bulb syringe to clean out her mouth and nose. He then passed her to one of the nurses who took her over to the table to clean her. One of the other nurses collected all of the fluids pooled on the plastic tarp beneath Mulder's belly. It was another twenty minutes before the pouch was delivered and the nurse collected that as well. Krycek used a washcloth to clean the sweat and tears of pain off Fox's brow and face.
Doctor Bradford came over to the bed after checking the baby. "The baby is doing fine, she's healthy and weighs four pounds, two ounces."
"Okay, Prince Fox, let's get you into another position," Pendrell said.
Mulder was relieved; he couldn't endure lying on his side any longer. Alex moved off the bed as they raised it a little and positioned Mulder on his back. Skinner and Pendrell eased Mulder into a sitting position so Alex could crawl behind him on the bed. They then eased Mulder back against Alex's chest.
Skinner walked over to look at the baby Seraph.
"Would you like to hold her?" the nurse asked. He had just finished cleaning her and was about to put her into an incubator.
"Yes." Skinner took the tiny baby from the nurse and cradled her against his chest. She was a real beauty, the wings felt weird against his forearm as he held her. He walked over to the bed. He thought it might be worth a try to get Fox to hold her.
"Fox, would you like to hold your daughter?" Skinner asked.
Mulder turned his head refusing to even look at the baby. "Get that creature away from me!" he ground out slowly.
"Fox, she not a creature," Skinner said.
"I don't want to touch it!" Mulder hissed then whimpered in pain.
"Walter, let's deal with this later," Krycek said.
Skinner frowned then carried the baby back to the nurse who took her and placed her inside the incubator. He came back to the bed with a cup of shaved ice, sitting, he spooned some into Mulder's mouth. "I didn't mean to upset you, Fox."
Pendrell sat on a stool beside the bed for another hour and a half then switched places with Doctor Bradford. The moment he did Mulder cried out as another baby's head crowned, and a short time later baby number two was born.
"Hey, it's a boy," Bradford said, surprised, as he cleaned out the baby's mouth and nose. "And he has a bellybutton! What do you make of that, Kyle?"
Pendrell frowned. He didn't know what to make of it and his mind pondered the possibilities.
Krycek's eyes were wide as he looked down at Mulder then over at Walter. Both men exchanged surprised looks; they had never expected a boy.
"Congratulations, Walter," Alex said.
It took Skinner a second to understand what Alex meant. As an immortal Alex couldn't have male children, only female. Walter felt overjoyed, he finally had the son that he had wanted for years, his joyful smile dissolved when Mulder spoke softly.
"H-he's your son, Alex," Mulder said weakly. He knew instinctively that the baby wasn't Walter's.
"Fox, that's not possible," Alex argued and his heart went out to Walter as the older man's face fell.
"Alex, you're still a sorcerer. S-s-sorry, Walter." Mulder gasped suddenly as his body expelled the pouch.
"That's okay, Fox." He was touched that in the middle of giving birth Fox was still concern about his feelings. "I would cherish another daughter, you know that." He leaned down and kissed Mulder chastely on the lips.
The nurse came back and cleaned up the mess, while Alex got up and stretched. He walked over to watch the male nurse clean his son. He did a quick count of toes and fingers, and looked on as the nurse weighed the infant.
"Four pounds on the dot," Nurse Adams said.
Mulder was repositioned onto his side again and the bed was lowered. After fifteen minutes had passed. Alex came over to the bed holding their son. "Fox, isn't he beautiful?" Alex asked, holding the baby so Mulder could see him.
Mulder smiled, "Yes, he looks like you."
Skinner got up to look at the baby. "May I?" he asked holding out his arms, and Alex eased the infant into them. "He is a beautiful baby, Alex. Fox is right he does look a lot like you."
Doctor Pendrell sat watching the monitors. "Prince Fox, your contractions have slowed down to every six minutes. I think it is okay if you got up and moved around for a little bit. Do you need to use the bathroom?"
"Yeah, as long as you don't think the baby is going to make a sudden surprise appearance?" Mulder was sore and loved the idea of getting out of bed to stretch his aching muscles.
"The last two babies took an hour and a half to make an appearance and your contractions were at a minute apart. I don't think there will be any sudden surprises," Pendrell said.
"Okay."
Krycek assisted him in getting out of bed and into the bathroom, while Skinner handed the infant back to the nurse who put him in an incubator. He then joined the two men in the bathroom.
"Hey, I can reach my dick again," Mulder was saying as he stood in front of the urinal peeing. He was leaning heavily against Krycek for support; his legs were trembling too much for him to stand on his own.
"You look a lot smaller," Skinner said, running his hand over Mulder's belly, it appeared slightly wrinkled but Skinner knew that as an immortal Mulder would be taut and smooth in a couple of days.
Mulder moaned as he had a contraction. The pain hadn't diminished in intensity only the time between them. His lovers helped him back to the room and Doctor Pendrell suggested that he lean over the bed and allow his belly to hang, hoping that it would speed up his contractions. Skinner stood behind him and helped support his weight.
"Can someone turn on the television?" Mulder asked, needing something to help take his mind off the pain. Concentrating on his daughters' photograph was no longer working.
The nurse flipped through the channels for him, but every station carried a special broadcast about him being in labor. There was news crews camped outside the palace waiting for news.
"Turn it off, please," Mulder said.
Nearly three hours later Pendrell frowned. Mulder's contractions were five minutes apart and his blood pressure was up. Pendrell thought about giving him a drug to help induce labor. However, he wasn't sure if it would work in Mulder's case.
Mulder was back in bed and lying on his back. He was in severe pain and crying. "I can't do this, please can't you just cut her out?" Sweat dripped off his face and soaked the sheets as Krycek tried to feed him some ice chips and Skinner massaged his feet. He was worried that his lovers would think less of him as a man for being so weak and needy.
"Prince Fox, I want you to try to feed your son, it should cause your womb to start contracting. The lactation nurse will show you how to do it properly," Doctor Pendrell said.
"Anything, I just want this over with now!" Mulder snapped.
Nurse Tom Olson brought the baby over to the bed. "I'll teach you how to hold him properly first," the nurse said as he positioned the baby in Mulder's arms. He positioned the baby's lips at Mulder's nipple then pinched the nipple until it was leaking, then he teased the baby's lips with the tip of the leaking nipple. The baby tasted the fluid and latched onto the nipple. "Make sure the point of your nipple is toward the back of the baby's mouth. That way he will be able to get most of the nipple inside, and not just the tip. It will be a lot less painful for you. Your milk won't come in for a day or two, but the stuff your body is producing now is the most beneficial for the babies."
Mulder felt a dull ache as the baby suckled. He also felt his contractions picking up. At first he was embarrassed with the medical staff standing around watching him nurse his baby, but the pain wouldn't allow him to wallow in his own humiliation for long.
Pendrell stepped over to Alex and whispered in his ear. "I think your son may be pre-immortal. I'll run a genetics test as quickly as possible to confirm my suspicions."
Alex's heart sank. He prayed that his son wasn't an immortal. He didn't want his son to grow up to become a sex object for powerful men. Fox's groan of pain brought Alex's attention back to his lover. He watched as his son nursed greedily from Fox's nipple. Alex brushed the bangs off Fox's sweaty forehead and started talking soothingly to his lover. The doctor and three nurses wandered around the room mostly waiting. Pendrell and Bradford took turns checking the monitors and Mulder's present dilation.
After ten minutes, Nurse Olson interrupted the feeding. "Prince Fox, you should switch sides every ten minutes or so. You break the suction by inserting you pinky finger between the corner of the baby's mouth and the nipple." To Mulder's embarrassment, Nurse Olson demonstrated the technique, then he help position the baby at the other nipple. After another ten minutes of feeding the nurse took the baby back and burped him before returning the infant to his incubator.
Skinner had to stand and stretch, his legs had gone numb. Alex's voice sounded hoarse as he kept up the soothing banter to Fox. Skinner walked across the room and looked in the incubators at the two babies. The little female Seraph was beautiful; her wings had dried and were a fluffy, white down. Alex's son was tiny and a real cutie. A moment of jealousy flashed across Walter's mind, the moment passed quickly. There would be other times for him to have a son.
Mulder sobbed and another gush of pink gel was discharged from his bellybutton and the next baby's head crowned. Skinner quickly rushed back to the bed and sat rubbing Fox's back. He reached out and took a hold of Fox's hand, watching in utter fascination as his baby was born.
"Fox, she's beautiful," Skinner murmured, leaning down he kissed Fox on the cheek then watched as the doctor cleared the air passages and the baby started crying loudly.
Mulder's body was trembling from exertion after the strain of giving birth to three infants.
"You only have the pouch to go," Doctor Bradford informed him.
When Mulder started screaming, it caught everyone by surprise. The muscles in Mulder's neck strained as he bore down wanting to expel the newest source of pain from his body. Pendrell rushed over to his side and probed his belly, and was taken by surprise as another baby was suddenly delivered. He scooped it up, and motioned for the bulb syringe to clean out the baby's nose and mouth.
Skinner and Krycek's mouths were hanging open in shock. Mulder slumped on the bed, closing his eyes in exhaustion and didn't even flinch when his body delivered the final pouch.
"Oh God. Quadruplets!" Krycek gasped.
"Well, Your Majesty, I think you've just got that son you wanted," Pendrell said, holding the squirming baby up so Skinner and Krycek could see its little penis. Mulder was totally done in and his whole body was shaking violently. The news didn't even penetrate his brain.
"Twins?" Skinner's face had gone white then a huge grin spread across his lips. "Fox, we have twins, a boy and a girl!"
Mulder didn't respond, after the tremors subsided, he had closed his eyes and tried to slowdown his racing heart.
Pendrell smiled down at him. "Prince Fox, you have a couple of minor tears that I'm going to patch up, your body should have the damage healed in a couple of hours. We found that it takes at least two days before your body will be fully recovered from its ordeal."
Bradford stepped over to Skinner and Krycek. "Why don't you two go see your children, while we take care of cleaning up Prince Fox," he advised.
Alex could hardly stand. All the sensation had gone out of his legs from sitting for such a long period. He limped over to the incubators and looked in at his son. Then he peered in at Walter's daughter; it seemed weird that she didn't have a bellybutton, while his son did. Skinner was standing next to the table watching the nurse bathe his son.
"Would you like to hold him, Your Majesty?" the nurse asked, wrapping the baby in a blanket and putting a tiny knit cap on his head.
"Yeah," Skinner said.
"Why don't you have a seat in the rocker first," the nurse advised. When Skinner was seated, he placed the baby in Skinner's arms then walked over to check the other infants. "Prince Alex, you can hold your son again too, if you'd like?" he said.
Krycek nodded and the nurse opened the incubator and gently lifted out the infant. "Why don't you sit in the other rocker." He waited for Krycek to sit before handing him the infant.
Skinner rocked his son cooing and talking to him, he looked over at Pendrell. "Kyle, when can we take them home?"
"I want to keep them at least until they've had their first bowel movement," Pendrell said.
"Do you think Fox will have a problem nursing four babies?"
"It's not going to be easy for him. Immortals' bodies produce an endless supply of milk; so keeping up with their demand won't be a problem. However, the process of feeding so many mouths is going to exhaust him. So I would recommend using the pump to extract enough milk daily so you and Alex can help him with the feedings," Pendrell said. He put down the sponge he was using to bathe Mulder and motioned for the nurses to help him get the young man under the blankets. The plastic sheeting and the birth fluids had all been collected and saved earlier.
"We'll need lessons on how to use the pump, is this going to be painful for Fox?" Skinner asked.
"It will be at first, but that will pass and at times it will be very pleasurable," Pendrell replied.
"Thanks, Kyle," Skinner said, standing he walked back over to the incubators, handing his son to the nurse, he wanted to hold his daughter.
"Your Majesty, do you feel up for visitors? We can allow three of your friends in at a time," Doctor Bradford asked.
"Sure, just don't tell them about the twins. I want to surprise them," Skinner said.
A few minutes later, Yori and Lev walked in with River, Hope, and Faith.
"Hey, they're still up," Krycek said, rocking his son as his daughter and River ran over to him.
"Is that my new sister?" River asked.
"This is your new brother," Krycek said.
"She's a boy?" River asked, puzzled.
"Baby," Faith said, leaning close to look at the tiny infant.
Krycek smiled. "He's a boy. Do you want to go say hello to Daddy Fox?"
River took Faith's hand and led her to the bed. "Daddy, are all the babies out of your tummy?"
Mulder peered tiredly at them. He was lying on his side again. "God, I hope so," he said, giving them a weak smile. Mulder noticed Yori and Lev across the room with Walter and Hope. Walter was positively glowing as he showed the two men their babies. "Are you behaving for Yori and Lev?"
"Yes, Daddy. Vicky and Sean are sleeping, but Yori thought we should be here to meet our new siste...brothers," River said confused.
"You have one sister and two brothers," Mulder informed him. "Have you seen them?"
"Only the baby boy Daddy Alex is holding."
Mulder yawned. "Why don't you run over and see your other sister and brother."
"Okay, come along, Faith." River led her across the room to where the other men stood. "Daddy, can we see our other sister and brother?"
"Sure, son." Skinner knelt down and showed them their new sister. "This is your sister Kaylie. Let me put her back in the incubator, so she stays warm, then I'll let you see your other brother and sister."
River looked at him puzzled, and counted on his fingers. "Do we have two sisters?"
Skinner looked down at him. "Yes, two sisters and two brothers."
"Daddy Fox, must have not counted right," River said.
Skinner picked River and Faith up. "Daddy Fox is tired, he probably just forgot."
"This is your sister, Angélique."
"Cool! She has wings like Uncle Jeff, except hers are white," River said.
"Birdy," Faith said.
"No, silly, that isn't a bird, it's our sister!" River laughed.
Skinner chuckled and looked over to the bed. Yori and Lev were talking to Fox. They had placed Hope on the mattress with him. Hope was curled up in his arms, sleeping. Faith yawned and rested her head on Skinner's shoulder. "Poor things, you both stayed up until four o'clock in the morning to see your new brothers and sisters. I think it is time you went home to bed."
"Daddy, I'm not tired," River pouted.
"Listen to your daddy, young man," Yori said, coming over to them and taking Faith from Walter.
Lev was behind him holding Hope in his arms, she was still sound asleep. "Shall we go?"
"Yes, Lev. Walter, Alexei, Mulder, the new babies are beautiful, we will come back later today and visit."
"Bye, Yori, Lev, thanks for bringing our children," Skinner said.
After they had left, Scully, her husband Jonathan and adopted son Scott came into the room. "Hi, Guys," Scully said, stepping across to the bed first she sat next to Mulder. "Hi, partner, you did really well. I imagine you're sore as hell, but you have to admit that it was worth it?" They had been in the waiting room for over seven hours so she could only imagine how sore Mulder was.
"Give me a few hours, Scully, and I'll get back to you on that," Mulder quipped tiredly.
"Why don't you close your eyes and try to get a couple hours of sleep?"
"I'm still wired, but I'm starting to feel like I'm crashing." Mulder yawned and took her advice, closing his eyes. A few minutes later a gentle snoring sounded from his lips.
"It was really difficult for him, Dana. Would you like to see our new children?" Krycek asked. He had placed his son back in the incubator after Yori and Lev left.
"There are four of them," Scott said.
"Four?" Scully rushed over and looked inside each incubator, one had two tiny infants inside.
Skinner beamed proudly. "Dana, this is my son and daughter. Can you believe it? We had twins?"
"Wow, no wonder Mulder went out like a light."
Krycek spoke up. "Fox and I had a son, too."
"He's really cute, Alex," she said, looking at the little boy then stepped down to the last incubator. "So this is the baby Seraph, is it a she?"
"Yeah. She's a pretty little thing isn't she?" Skinner said.
Scully looked at the Seraph. "Has Mulder changed how he feels about her?"
"No. Not yet, but I'm sure once he holds her, he'll fall in love with her."
"May I hold her?" Scully asked.
"Sure," Skinner opened the incubator and gently lifted the baby out and handed her to Scully. The baby started to cry.
"I think she is hungry," Skinner sighed. "But Fox won't even look at her. We may have to feed her by bottle."
"Poor thing." Scully cuddled the infant to her bosom, but she didn't stop crying. She sighed, reluctantly placing the infant back in the incubator and her crying quieted down to only whimpers. "Alex, Walter, the babies are all beautiful. Tell Mulder that we will stop by later, there is a line of people waiting to see the babies," Scully said.
"Thanks for stopping by, Dana, Jonathan, Scott."
Shinji, MacIver, and Kazuo strolled in next. Shinji was carrying his baby. They had left Ayako with their nanny.
"Is it really true that Mulder had Quadruplets and two of them are boys?" Shinji asked, rushing over to the incubators. "Wow. Look, Duncan, they are going to be your playmates someday."
Kazuo strolled over to the bed and looked at Mulder. "How's he doing?"
"It was hard on him, but he should recover quickly. I know his mood will improve, once he realizes that he can see his dick again," Krycek said.
"Four babies, no wonder he was so huge," MacIver said, looking at the babies. "I hope he is in shape for the beauty pageant in three weeks."
"Rory, we are not doing any beauty pageant," Shinji growled.
"I've already gotten replies back from twelve immortals who are looking forward to competing. After all, thirty percent of the proceeds are going to help build better orphanages and hire a more qualified staff," MacIver argued. "And the winner will get ten percent of the profits."
"Rory, no," Shinji said.
Rory shrugged his shoulders. He had three weeks to work on his friends, he was sure he could convince them. "The babies are real beauties, Guys, tell Mulder that we stopped by."
The rest of their visitors came and went until finally it was quiet. Mulder had woken up during Byers and Langly's visit. The nurse came in shortly after they had left and suggested Mulder try to feed his babies.
"Why don't you start with the cute little winged baby?" the nurse asked.
"Keep that creature away from me!" Mulder growled.
"Okay. Then why don't I show you and your husbands how to use the pump, first?" The nurse decided to extract just enough milk for the Seraph baby.
Nurse Olson held up the pump. "Plug the pump into an outlet. Then position the pump so his whole areola is inside the small disc. Turn it on, and it will create a suction." He switched it on and the three men watched as the bottle slowly began to fill. "It will take almost as long to fill the bottle as it takes for the baby to nurse."
Mulder moaned as the pump extracted liquid from his nipple.
"It will become less painful in time," the nurse said.
"God, I hope so," he grumbled.
The nurse finished filling a small bottle then set it aside. "Okay, which baby do you want to feed first?"
"Can I do two at once?" Mulder asked.
"Yes, if you're up to trying two."
Mulder nodded, "Bring me the twins." He looked up at Alex and Walter. "Guys, we need to decide on new names. Alex, Sarah just isn't going to cut it for our son."
Walter smiled. "But at least Kaylie will still work for our daughter, Fox. We only need a boy's name, too," he said.
Mulder cradled his son and daughter and was unsure how to position them. The nurse quickly intervened and positioned the babies properly, then pinched Mulder's nipples until they were leaking. The four men watched in awe as the babies latched onto the nipples and started suckling. Mulder worried his bottom lip as the suckling became uncomfortable and sore.
Nurse Olson went over to feed the baby Seraph, but she refused to drink the milk from the bottle. If she didn't start feeding soon they would have to force feed her.
The rest of the nursing went smoothly; the infants fed for twenty minutes. Mulder groaned when the nurse reminded him that they would require feeding every two to three hours. He had tried to forget that fact about newborn babies.
"Sleep, Fox, we'll help with the pump when we get you home," Skinner assured him.
"You both look like you can use some sleep, too. Why don't you go home and come back in later?" Mulder asked.
"I think one of us should stay, Fox. And I'm volunteering," Krycek said.
"Okay, Alex, you stay with Fox. I'll be back in six hours." Skinner leaned down and kissed Mulder before leaving.
Krycek kicked his shoes off. "Scoot over a little," he said.
"Not in this lifetime," Mulder groaned.
Krycek helped Mulder move over and he climbed into bed, wrapping his arms around Mulder. "Now sleep, we have only two hours."
Mulder smiled and rested his head on Alex's shoulder then he fell back to sleep.
***
End of chapter 3 - Birth
chapter 4 - Pageant