Backyard Beach Boys
by Christine Leigh

Summary: Father and son talking on a summer night. The fifth 
of a series of vignettes centering around Mulder and Will
that may also be read as a stand-alone.  The series starts
approximately two years after the end of the show.
Rating: G 
Category: Vignette, AU
Spoilers: None.
Disclaimer: All characters are the products of Chris Carter. They
also belong to Ten-Thirteen Productions and the Fox Network. No
copyright infringement intended. 
Archiving: If you would like to archive anywhere, I'd  appreciate a
quick note first. 
Email: Feedback is always welcome, leighchristine@hotmail.com


"Will, are you ready for bed?"

"No, Daddy."

"No?"  Mulder looked down only to be met with a
countenance he knew all too well - - his.

"Yes?"  

The game is underway.

"Yes?"

"Yes."

"You're certain?"

"No."  Will paused.  "I brushed my teeth, Daddy."

Mulder looked at his son's grin and could smell the
toothpaste.

"Good boy.  Now, why did you answer 'no'?"

"'Cause I want to stay and watch the sky with you."

"Come here, Will."

Will jumped into the arms Mulder held wide open.  It
was a beautiful summer night with a full moon and the
scent of jasmine all around.  They settled into one of
the lawn chairs in the backyard.

"Will, you know you won't last.  You never do." 
Mulder said this gently.  He'd never turn Will away. 
No, to sit here on a night like this with his own son
on his lap was something too precious to miss.  Even
if he would be carting a little sleepyhead inside
within the next five minutes.

"Daddy, I'm not sleepy."

"Well, not now, but I know my son, and he's a lot like
his mother - - he can fall asleep just like that."

"Like what, Daddy?"

"Suddenly - - fast.  Your mom can fall asleep fast,
and so can you."

"You don't sleep fast, Daddy?"

"Will, I sleep a lot faster than I used to, but you
and Mommy will probably always beat me to it."

Will's eyes blinked, but he didn't show any signs of
caving yet.  

"Mommy said that she sleeps in the car."

"That would be a fact, Will.  Mommy's an excellent car
sleeper.  Of course, not when she's driving.  But she
has a long history of sleeping while Daddy was
driving."  Some of those times seemed almost quaint
now, but they were still among Mulder's most cherished
memories of his years with Scully.  

Will seemed satisfied in regard to the sleep habits of
the Mulder family, and was quiet.  Father and son sat
in silence for a few minutes, and still, Will was
awake. 

"Daddy, will the moon burn us?"  

"Burn us?  Like the sun?  No, Will.  It won't burn us. 
The moon's different.  You can get a moontan with no
worry about burning."

Will laughed.  He could sense his dad getting silly.

"There's no water.  What if we get too hot, Daddy?"

"That won't happen.  This is the *moon* we're talking
about here.  He, or she if you like, is smarter and
friendlier to people than the sun.  We'll stay cool,
Will, I promise."

"And we'll get a tan."

"A moontan.  That's only for very special beach boys."

"Beach boys?"

"That's us, Will.  We're the backyard beach boys.  We
have no surf or sand, but we have the moon, and we're
cool."

Will liked the sound of that.  His dad always came up
with fun.

"Daddy, can Mommy be a beach boy?"

"If she would like to be."

"I'm sleepy, Daddy."

"Time for my beach boy to go to bed?"

Will nodded and closed his eyes.  Mulder sat there a
moment and then stood with his sleeping bundle.  It
was such a gorgeous night.  Perhaps he could interest
Scully in being a beach boy tonight?  With that happy
thought in mind, he headed indoors.

The moon shone on.


- end  -