Title: Tickets Unnecessary

Author: Cathey Scully

Rating: PG-13

Category: A, R, S, Post-Col

Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance, Williamfic

Spoilers: William, and for the previous two stories in this universe: Birthday
Tickets, and Ticket for One.

Summary: "Dad, if you could go back and do stuff again, would you?" This is a
sequel to Birthday Tickets and Ticket for One, and third in the Ticket Series.

Archive: Sure, if you'd like. Just tell me where it's getting put.

Feedback: Please! Send it to CatheyScully@the-pentagon.com or
ForeverXphile@adelphia.net

Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, and William aren't mine. Meran and Rhys are mine.
Please take no legal action against me, because I have no spare change to give
you, Mr. Carter.

Notes: As mentioned in the summary, this is the third installment in what I'm
now calling the "Tickets" Series. The First two stories are "Birthday Tickets"
and "Ticket for One", and can be found at my web site.
http://catheysfic.tripod.com .

Thanks: to Dev for betaing this thing, even though I took so long to post it!

Other: Hi, Jacob :*

~ # ~

Coming back to Yankee Stadium felt like coming home. William smiled, realizing
that, in a way, all of his wonderful memories of this place did make it home.
He had so many memories of sitting in the sun with his adoptive father, his
mother, and his father. Of finally meeting his mom and being acknowledged as
her son.

Now he was home. He was back. And he wasn't alone. There were others,
thousands of other fans had flocked for the first baseball game since the
invasion. Meran was already holding their seats, since he had waited to ride up
with his parents.

"Will, what's wrong?"

William looked down, smiling at his adorable little brother.

"Nothing's wrong, Rhys. I'm just happy," he squatted down to his three year old
brother's level and squeezed his hand.

"Why you crying?" Rhys asked softly. William swiped at his cheeks and realized
that his eyes were wet.

"I'm really, really happy right now, Rhys, that's why I'm crying. Gimme a hug."

Rhys giggled and squeezed his arms around William's neck. William closed his
eyes and held onto his baby brother tightly.

True to his impressions, his parents had conceived another miracle baby on the
night of his dad's return to them. William loved having both his parents with
him, after being on his own for so long, and loved his little brother. He used
his mother's pregnancy to act like a child again, and would frequently sit with
her for hours. It was wonderful, being a child, being a son, being taken care
of.

"It's okay, Will," Rhys patted his back lightly, making him grin.

"You're right. It's more than okay. It's your birthday."

"Yeah!" Rhys cheered. William smiled, his earlier melancholy forgotten
momentarily. He stood, holding Rhys's hand and watching for their parents. His
other hand tugged Rhys in front of him, holding onto his brother's shoulder to
keep him close. A few moments later, William spotted his mother's beautiful
bright hair coming toward them.

"Daddy's getting some food. Do you want some?" she asked, smiling first at
William and then down at Rhys.

Rhys brightened up. "Food!"

"Go see daddy then," Scully pushed her son gently toward his father, keeping a
mother's watchful eye on him until he made the 6 foot run safely into his
father's arms.

"Are you alright? He didn't try to escape on you, did he?"

William draped his arm around his mother's shoulders. Scully squeezed his waist
gently, smiling in appreciation at the gentle, loving, affectionate young man
her little baby had become.

"No, he's been great. It's just being here that's gotten me."

"Come here." She lowered his head to her shoulder.

"I got a little choked up when we came in here too. But we're all okay now.
You, your dad, Rhys, even Meran."

"You're so much more amazing than I ever imagined, Mom."

"So are you," she replied, turning their embrace into a tight hug. "I still
haven't thanked you in any way that's worthwhile for bringing your father home
when even I believed he was dead."

William shook his head, "You did, Mom, you gave me the chance to be your son
again," he squeezed her. "I love you, Momma."

"I love you, too," she kissed his forehead. He squeezed her once more before
releasing her and they waited for Mulder and Rhys to return.

When Mulder led Rhys back over, Scully lifted Rhys up into her arms, snuggling
with her young son and wrapping her arm around her older son.

"Are you ready?" Mulder asked.

"Yeah, Daddy!" Rhys cheered. Mulder smiled, letting his wife lead him and
their sons into the stadium.

William settled beside Meran, receiving happy hugs and kisses from her. His mom
reached over to pat Meran's hand.

"Sorry to make you wait."

"It's okay; I know how much Blabbermouth Will wanted to talk up the game to
Rhys."

Upon hearing his name, Rhys stood up, walking past his big brother's gangly
limbs to hug Meran. Meran smiled widely.

"Hi sweetie, Happy Birthday," she kissed his temple gently before releasing him
back onto his feet.

"Tank you," Rhys smiled, patting William's leg to get him to move his feet.

When William didn't move, simply grinning down at his brother, Rhys climbed
under and over his legs back to Scully. She smiled widely at his ingenuity,
letting Meran be the one to heckle William about teasing his sibling. Rhys
shook his head at Scully's offer to sit in her lap, instead climbing onto his
father's lap. Mulder offered him a sip of his coke. Rhys giggled, making them
all smile. As Mulder cuddled his son, William looked away, feeling a stab of
jealousy.

His mom must have been reading his mind, because she scooted close and touched
his arm gently. He smiled down at her and patted her hand.

"You know, despite the public location, your dad wouldn't be opposed to giving
you a hug," she murmured.

"I know," William answered quietly. "And it's not that. I just wish I'd been
able to have the happy birthdays that he will."

Scully nodded, "You've always been so precious to us, William. I would have
given anything to have seen you everyday and not just once a year.

"I know. I don't mean to be immature."

"You've earned it, though," Scully smiled, kissing his cheek. "You did somewhat
miss out on the chance to have a bratty childhood phase."

In the fifth inning, his mom and Meran took Rhys to get souvenirs. William
pretended not to have heard his father's comment about the black lace Yankees
teddy for which his mom should be shopping. Mulder grinned at his son's
embarrassed blush.

Mulder took the opportunity to slide into the chair next to William. William
glanced at him, but waited to speak.

"You're upset," Mulder acknowledged. William looked at his dad in surprise.
"Contrary to sometimes popular opinion, they didn't give me that psychology
degree for nothing. I can see it in your face. You're angry."

"Not angry, sad," William admitted, looking down at his hands. "I really just
wish that I could have had this on my birthdays. I mean, my adoptive parents
were wonderful, but they weren't you and mom. They loved me as their own, but
at the same time, I always knew there was something…extra, about me. I wish
they could have understood that."

"Me too," Mulder admitted. "I wish your mother and I could have understood
that, we might have made different choices." He stopped, taking a sip of his
coke and then continuing. "Do you remember your fifth birthday?"

William's brow wrinkled in thought, "I remember the game. You guys left early.
Why?"

"We um, we never actually left early. We'd always wait and watch you and your
dad leave."

William opened his mouth to say something, but Mulder shook his head. "Anyways,
most of the crowd had cleared out and I found you in the bathroom. You'd been
holding the wrong guy's hand, and when you realized it, got scared and hid. I
picked you up and held you, trying to get you to calm down. You were so
trusting, and all I wanted to do was carry you to our car and take you back home
with us, without regard for legalities, or your adoptive parents' feelings."

"Why didn't you?"

Mulder took a deep breath. "I didn't because you fell asleep in my arms and as
I started to leave with you, your mother saw your dad standing at the will call
window. She convinced me that I couldn't just steal you away, no matter how
much we both wanted to. So we took you back to your dad. He was so happy to
see you, and so grateful to us for keeping you safe, that I knew I couldn't have
done it."

William turned and looked down at the field, before turning back and hugging his
dad. Mulder hugged him back.

"I love you, Dad."

"I love you too, William."

They released each other and grinned. Home run, Yankees.

"Dad, if you could go back and do stuff again, would you?"

"It's hard to answer that, William. Sometimes changing even one little,
seemingly pointless thing can change history, or the future, whatever it is.
Like say I was to change something I did or said before your mom and I came to
our senses, we might not have you or Rhys. Sometimes changing a decision isn't
as easy as it seems, and isn't as simple and black and white."

"So you wouldn't go back and stop mom from giving me up?"

After a long silence, Mulder answered, "I don't know."

"Because of how it might affect everything else? Or because it was just easier
without me around?"

"You know that's not true. Life was – it would have been terrible for you. It
was no life for a child, not even one with your abilities."

William looked down at the field, not really acknowledging his words. He bit
his lip and popped his knuckles.

"Your mom hates that. Says it'll give you arthritis."

William laughed, watching his dad pop his knuckles in defiance. "I'm sorry for
being a brat. This is Rhys's day, and I'm being immature. I'll shut up and
watch the game."

"Green does go well with your complexion, William," his dad teased, mussing his
hair. "It's okay to be jealous. Sibling rivalry is pretty common."

"Not for me. I mean, here I am, savior of the world, and I'm jealous of a three
year old."

Mulder chuckled, "It'll pass. I promise."

William nodded, contemplating the melancholy aspect of his thoughts before
turning back to the game.

Meran concluded his thoughts by sliding into his lap. He smiled, giving his ex
a squeeze. He and Meran had split about a month ago, after they mutually
decided to try their hands at being with other people. Sometimes he missed her,
but he was mostly happy to have her as his closest friend.

"Well, well. 8-2, Yankees. Looks like you owe me 10 bucks, Mer."

"The game ain't over yet, Mulder. Watch yourself," she shot back, slipping into
her own seat.

"So, you buy me anything?"

"Yeah, a muzzle," she grinned. "Your mom has a hat for you."

William nodded. A moment later, his mom came back, holding Rhys by the hand.
Rhys bounded through the empty drink cups and peanut shells and jumped into
William's lap. William lowered his head and accepted the hat Rhys offered.

"Thanks Rhys."

"No prob," Rhys replied, mimicking his brother's speech patterns.

William and Meran grinned. "Lousy influence," Meran shot.

"Is not," Rhys argued, making William grin. William looked over at his mom,
finding her resting her head on his dad's shoulder. Sighing, he tried not to
look away.

"Why don't you sit in your own seat and watch the game for a while?" he
suggested. Rhys looked hurt, but acquiesced.

~ $ ~

That night William punched his pillow and rolled over again. His mind wouldn't
shut off. All he wanted was to sleep.

He was tired of feeling jealous. Tired of wishing he'd had what Rhys did.
Tired of forgetting what he did have back then.

With a sigh, William rolled onto his back. He had to stop this. He had to go
back. He had to go back home, to where he grew up, or began growing. He had to
remember exactly where he came from.

He contemplated sneaking out, just leaving a note or something and calling when
he got there. He decided against it when he thought of his mother's worry.
Sure, he was 20 years old, but his parents still didn't deserve it. So instead
he decided to wait till they could talk about it.

~ @ ~

"Mom, I need to go away for a while. There's some stuff I need to think about."

After a moment his mom looked up from her book. "William, what?"

He sat on the table in front of her, rubbing his hands over his jeans.

"I want to go back to Wyoming for a while. I think I need to make peace there
before I can move on."

"We'll, we'll come with you," she set her book down, reaching for his hands.
William smiled slightly, and shook his head.

"Mom, I need to do this on my own. I, it's my problem. I-" William stopped
mid-sentence.

"You need to say goodbye. I know. You're right; you need to do this on your
own. Your dad and I didn't know your parents, we'd just be intruding." Scully
held onto his hands, squeezing them gently.

"Thank you, Mom."

"When are you planning to leave?"

"Tomorrow. I figure I should do it before I lose the nerve."

"Okay," she smiled her eyes sad.

"I'm coming home, Mom. I'll be back. I just want to move past these feelings
that keep popping up."

"Promise me you'll be careful."

"I will, Momma."

"Sit with me until your Dad and Rhys get home?"

"Sure," William settled beside his mom. "Tell me some stories, Mom. About
anything."

"Better yet, would you tell me something? Tell me some stories."

~ ~ ~

There wasn't much left. Nothing he remembered anyway. There were a lot of
small farms, and he remembered some of the people there. Some had been captured
with him, and he'd felt it his duty to help them escape when he did.

They watched as he got out of his car, some fearful, some curious. He tried to
look as unthreatening as possible. He shoved his hands in his pockets and kept
his head down shyly. Part of him wished he'd let his parents come with him.

"Excuse me, um; do you know the Van De Kamps?"

"We did, yes. But Jane died a long time ago, and Robert died over 6 years ago.
Their son was the only one left. He was kidnapped when it all started."

"I know. I'm a friend of his, he asked me to come and get some stuff for him."

"Sure. Keep on this road and it's the last right before it dead ends."

"Thanks," William smiled, walking back to his car.

It took him an hour to work up the courage to even look in the direction of the
house. It was nothing like he remembered; the grass was almost waist high, the
house rundown, but sturdy looking. He closed his eyes tiredly. When he
concentrated, he could still see it from when he was little.

"Now or never, William," he muttered, leaving the haven of his car. Fishing out
his cell phone, he called home.

"Mulder."

"Hi, Dad. It's me."

"William. Are you okay? I wasn't expecting to hear from you so soon."

"Fine. I just wanted to let you know I'm here. Everything's okay so far."

"Good. Your mom is out with Rhys."

"She's okay, right?"

"She's just worried. These last few years have been hard on her. She's happy
that you're willing to do this, just not happy that it involves being away from
home."

"Why didn't you go with her and Rhys?" William asked, his father's comforting
voice driving him up the stairs.

Mulder chuckled. "I was ordered to wait for your call."

"Ahh," William laughed. "So you really did expect to hear from me."

"Are you okay?"

William bit his lip. "I don't know. I remember this place, but I don't. I
don't know how it was before. There were these people, who acted like they knew
me from before, but I don't have a clue who they are, except for the fact that I
know I broke them out of prison."

"Don't worry what they think. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, Dad. I'm okay."

"Have you gone inside yet?"

William looked up, grinning. "Almost. I'm at the front porch."

His dad's voice was soft, comforting. "Go inside, William. You can't stop your
demons if you don't face them."

William hmmed into the receiver.

"I'll call you guys tomorrow."

"Okay. Call if you need anything."

"I will, Dad. I love you."

"I love you, too."

William hung up, looking around the dusty living room.

"Might as well get this over with," he muttered.

~ # ~

As he wandered around his old home, he considered finding a hotel, even if it
was three towns over. This place was a mess. No, it was more than that. It
was completely trashed. He blinked when he remembered huddling in the
downstairs closet to avoid being taken.

After a moment, he found himself at said closet. With a shaking hand, he
reached out to squeeze the handle. It turned easily in his palm, having been
broken when they tore him from his haven.

Involuntarily, his eyes slipped shut. He couldn't do this.

A breeze wafted in from the open door, ruffling his hair gently. He caught his
breath and opened his eyes. He was facing coats. Ordinary coats.

After staring at them for five long minutes, he shut the closet door and
continued to look around.

His first demon had been exorcised.

~ @ ~

"Are you sure you want to keep the house, William?"

"I think I do. Now that I've cleaned it up, it's a nice house. And it's mine.
It's really beautiful out here, Rhys would like it. We could vacation here."

"Are you sure?" his mother sounded hesitant.

"I think they would have wanted this, Mom."

"Okay, William. Come home and we'll work on that later."

"I'm leaving on Friday."

"Good. Want to talk to Rhys? He's about to take the phone away any minute."

"Sure, put him on."

On his last night in his old home, he cried. He had been happy here. His life
had been easy, uncomplicated. He'd been loved. He was still loved. More than
anything he was still loved. His mother, his father, his brother, even Meran.
This place was his history, but his home was with them. And that was his
future.

End of Tickets Unnecessary