These characters belong to Chris Carter, Twentieth Century Fox, and Ten Thirteen Productions. Some of these ideas belong to Chris Carter (some that he may not admit to) and all of the above powers that are. No infringement is intended. This story was written for the EMXC. If you have received this story from any other source please contact me or EMXC host XFCScinut. This story was finished 10/28. The Dinner Date DGraml6525@aol.com Epilogue The sound of the shot echoed through her ears. Her eyes snapped open just as her head snapped up off of the pillow. 'Slow down, slow down, have to slow down my breathing.' "It wasn't real, none of it was real." She finally began to calm down. 'My God, how real it all seemed.' Dana slipped out from under her husband's outstretched arm. She tiptoed into the bathroom. She bent over the sink and splashed cold water onto her face. Her whole body was soaked with sweat. It had been a long time since she'd had a dream like that. Recently, Her life had been too calm for even to think about things like that. Hormones, that was it. The doctor warned her that her body would be a 'a little off kilter.' That HAD to be it. Dana padded into out of the bathroom and gazed lovingly at her husband. He laid peacefully on the bed, oblivious to the turmoil that had just happened in his wife's mind. Lucky him... she knew that he really would be able to understand all of the fears that she has kept bottled up for so long. She walked down the hallway. A soft light came from under one of the doors. Dana opened the door softly and stepped in. Her mother sat in the room quietly; cradled in her arms was Dana's 10 day old daughter. "Oh honey, I didn't mean to wake you. Sarah began to fuss so I thought I would sit with her for a while." Dana smiled. "You're going to spoil her Mom." "Well, I'm her grandmother, I'm suppose to spoil her. You would NEVER let me spoil you and Melissa....." She looked away sadly. The baby shifted a little in her arms. Margaret smiled down at the baby. "It amazes me how much she reminds me of Melissa. It is still hard to believe that Missy has been dead for four years." Dana watched her mother thoughtfully. 'How could I have ever believed my Mother was capable of such horrible things.' "I would like to believe that Melissa lives on in Sarah." Dana said quietly. Margaret looked a little surprised. "I didn't expect you to say that Dana, it's no really your type of thing." Dana broke down into tears. "I love you Mom" she sniffed and hugged her tightly. "Gotta love the first few emotional weeks after a baby arrives" Margaret laughed. Her eyebrows furrowed when she saw the expression on her daughters face. "Honey, what is it?" Dana shook her head. "Just a crazy dream. It terrified me at first but now I know that it could never, ever be real." Margaret kissed her on the top of her head. "Well you know if you want to talk about it, I'm always willing to listen." "Thanks Mom. And thanks for coming to help with the baby." "I'll be here as long as you need me. But right now, Sarah needs you. She's hungry and I don't think I can help in that department." Dana took her daughter in her arm. "Goodnight Mom, try to get some sleep for a change, huh?" Margaret followed her daughter out of the nursery. She lovingly watched as Dana disappeared into the master bedroom with her little brown haired granddaughter. 'What a wonderful daughter I raised' she thought as she settled into bed. ************************************************************************ Dana settled onto her side of the bed and began nursing the baby She stroked the baby's fuzzy brown hair, completely in awe of the little being in her arms. Her nightmare was fading farther and farther away. It didn't even seem real anymore. Dana's husband raised up in bed. "Hey Sarah, getting fueled up for the night? You seem a little down, you okay Dana?" Dana grinned at him. "I'm fine Fox. Everything is fine." The End (Yeah, I know it was a sappy and anticipated ending. But you didn't really think I would kill off all of our favorite heroes did you?)