"William," Scully called up the stairs. "Are you almost ready to go?"

"I gettin' toys!"

"Honey, you don't need toys. We're going to the park."

"One boat?"

"Okay, but you don't need a whole flotilla."

He came out of his room with a plastic boat in his hand and his shoes on the wrong feet.

"Mommy, we get Ellie and Daddy too."

"Nope, they're going to stay here."

"Why?"

"Because, I think you're getting stir crazy and so am I."

"What'sat mommy?"

"It means we need to get out of the house."

"Okay."

He hopped down the stairs and followed her into the kitchen where she was putting snacks into his backpack. She'd decided a long time ago that she and Mulder each needed to have days alone with each kid, and now they finally had time to do it. Scully was taking William to the park and the library, and Mulder was going to spend the day teaching Ellie to walk. Scully was certain that she and William would have a much more successful day, but Mulder usually accomplished what he set his mind to, so maybe she would come home to a toddling daughter.

"Mulder, we're leaving!"

"Okay. Drive safe."

They headed out the door and William climbed into his car seat, pulling on the seatbelt until he managed to get it clicked into place.

"William, we need to put your shoes on the right feet."

"They're not?"

"Nope. Look, see how this side is curvy?"

"Okay."

"That matches with where your foot is curvy."

"Oh."

"You won't remember that later will you?"

"Nope!"

She chuckled and finished with his shoes, then got in the car and backed out of the driveway.

"Hey buddy?"

"Yeah mommy?"

"What is your whole name?"

"William Asher Levi Mulder! And Ellie is Lizbeth Samanner Joy Mulder!"

"Do you know daddy's name?"

"Fox William Mulder. And mommy is Dana Kafine Mulder."

"You're very smart."

"No, I'm two!"

"Well now you're just goofy."

"Oh mommy. I is not," he sighed, shaking his head.

They fell silent and William stared out the window, watching other cars and making a few comments about different things he saw.

"Mommy?"

"What honey?"

"You get me a motorcycle?"

"A motorcycle? What do you want a motorcycle for?"

"I go fast! I drive you to the store."

"But if we're on a motorcycle where would we put the groceries?"

"You can hold them."

"Oh, thanks buddy."

"You welcome."

"And now this!" William exclaimed, hopping off the end of the slide and heading for the swings. Scully took a deep breath and followed him, already tired even though they had only been at the park for an hour. William ran from one thing to the next, climbing, jumping, and crawling over every piece of play equipment. It was slightly chilly out, but he had discarded his coat a while ago.

"Mommy, lift me up!" he shouted, pointing at the swing. She picked him up and settled him on the plastic swing, making sure his grip was tight before giving him a little push.

"I'm a big kid, mommy! I don't have a baby swing like Ellie."

"No, you don't," she said with a sad smile. He laughed as the swing went a little higher, kicking his legs in happiness. Sometimes she felt as if he had been with them forever, that life hadn't started until he arrived, that everything before him was the blurry background in a picture where he was the sharp focus. Other times she felt like she had looked into his eyes for the first time only yesterday, had taken note of the deep denim blue and wondered if they would stay that way. Whether it had been a lifetime or a moment, it still wasn't enough and he was growing too fast.

The swing came to a stop and he jumped off of it, landing on his knees in the sawdust.

"Whoops," he said, standing up and brushing himself off. "How about this now?"

He ran for the monkey bars and jumped up, trying to grab them.

"I need help."

"Buddy you're wearing me out."

"You take a nap."

"If I take a nap, who's going to lift you up?"

He sighed and shrugged and she lifted him up so he could grab the monkey bars. He hung there for a moment, swaying slightly and looking at the ground with trepidation.

"I need down."

Chuckling, she settled him back on the ground.

"Are you ready to go now?"

"Home?"

"No, I thought we could go to the library and pick out some books for you."

"Books!" he shouted, raising both arms in the air as if he had just scored the winning touchdown. "I want lots, mommy."

"We'll see."

They returned home a while later, tired but content. William had spent a long time laying on the floor of the kids section of the library, poring over picture books and telling himself stories. It had been hard to leave with only seven books, but Scully had finally promised him that they would be back in a week and if he would stop begging for more books, she would get him some hot chocolate on the way home. He now had hot chocolate all over his face, but he was pretty happy, so she didn't mind the mess.

Music was playing loudly from the stereo when they walked in the door and William dumped his books on the kitchen floor then ran into the other room.

"Music, mommy!" he shouted just before he rounded the corner. She grinned and picked up the books, then headed into the other room.

Mulder was dancing with Ellie who was kicking her feet in delight. William laughed and danced around the coffee table, stopping every once in a while to jump or spin. He ran over and grabbed her hand and gave her a huge smile.

"Dance too mommy! With me!"

She picked him up spun him around to which he let out a huge belly laugh. The four of them danced around the room, the kids giggling and Mulder singing loudly.

"I was walkin' in Memphis, walkin' with my feet ten feet off of Beale. Walkin' in Memphis, but do I really feel the way I feel?"

It wasn't the Cher version, but it was sentimental enough to bring a smile to Scully's face, especially when Mulder reached out and grabbed her waist and pulled her to him in a slow dance at the end of the song. He leaned down and kissed her and William threw his hands over his eyes.

"EW!"

"Give it about ten years buddy," Mulder said with a chuckle.

"So, did you accomplish your goal for the day?" Scully asked as Mulder moved to turn the stereo down. He nodded and put Ellie's feet in the floor, holding her for a second while she got her balance.

"Go get mommy," he coached.

With a squeal she took a few hesitant steps and toddled across the room, crashing into Scully's legs with a grin.

"Ellie's fast!" William decided, squirming down from Scully's arms. "Let's go, sister."

He dashed towards the toybox and Ellie shrieked, taking a few steps before falling down and crawling the rest of the way.

"Daddy, play with us," William requested, tossing a few toys behind him in the search for something else. "Mommy too."

They joined the kids on the floor and spent the rest of the day playing together, just their own little family in their own little world.