TITLE: Family by Choice
AUTHOR: Meghan O'Connor
EMAIL: gyrfalcon@yahoo.com
FEEDBACK: Please! But this is my second published LGM fanfic, so be
gentle!
RATING: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: Mulder, Scully, Skinner, Byers, Langly, and Frohike are
1013's. However, Rachel Ann MacGregor is all mine. Song by Leann
Rimes, all rights reserved etc. etc.
SPOILERS: The X-Files, all up to the last season finale, and the LGM
series.
CATEGORY: Post-Colonization, Character death, LGM/other
SYNOPSIS: Looking back on one woman's life
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just popped into my head. After reading a lot of
slash fic of the boys, and some with all of them together, I decided
to pop Rachel into the mix. Look what developed! Could be
depressing, but also very hopeful in tone.
I need you like water, like breath, like rain/I need you like mercy
from heaven's gate/There's a freedom in your arms that carries me
through/I need you---Leann Rimes, "I Need You"
My name is Rachel Ann MacGregor, and it is Freedom Year 49. I was
born in the Time Before, in the old date 1970. In the old date,
Colonization and the Rebellion happened in 2004. I would have called
this year 2053.
It has been a slow rebuilding, and my dearest friend has taken on the
task of archivist so future generations will know what their parents
won for them. He is known now only as the Archivist. He who keeps
the records of the Time Before. But I knew him as a Lone Gunman,
John Fitzgerald Byers. It was always he who could analyze patterns,
see the truth. He is our idealist. I always marveled at the amount
of knowledge in that man's mind, he's a walking encyclopedia. We
were the first to receive the vaccine that Mulder stole from the
first ship. We had no idea it would make us live so long. He and I
often speak of how tired we are, but we keep going for our children.
My own children have heard many stories of our hard-won freedom from
the aliens, and my grandchildren now hear the tales. But in the
beginning of the fight, we didn't think we would ever make it this
far. You will undoubtedly recognize many historical names that I
mention. I was privileged to be close to some of the key figures of
the Rebellion. My own part was not large, but we were all
essential. And I am so proud of bringing forth part of the new human
race into the Freedom Years.
In the Time Before, I was what they called an appliance repair
person. I met the Lone Gunmen when their refrigerator broke down.
As adept with electronics as they were, they had to call a specialist
to fix their aged icebox. I was always interested by the unusual and
alternative viewpoints, and read their newspaper. They were so
unappreciated for their predictions then. We became good friends,
and we spent a lot of time together. Through them, I met their
compatriots known as Mulder and Scully. I recall when Chancellor
William was born, what a special night. But our friendship changed
drastically when Colonization happened.
Anyhow, before I wander too much… When Colonization happened, we
kept in contact with others through electronic means as best we
could. We had left the city and hid out in a mountain resort up
north. We chose that due to the aliens problem with the lower
temperatures. It was myself, Byers, Melvin Frohike, and
Richard "Ringo" Langly. Yes, I see that you recognize those names.
Pioneers of your systems, you have them to thank for the fact you
have any technology at all. Well, maybe I exaggerate. I certainly
don't know what I would have done without them. It had become our
new home up there, just we four. We were a family of choice. Mulder
and Scully came later that year, but it was just us for quite some
time. We weren't sure we would ever come back if the Rebellion
failed.
I suppose the first move was mine. The guys were out hunting, and
had been attacked by a bear. Mostly bruises, no broken bones, a few
scratches here and there. But my heart was pounding like a
jackhammer. (Look it up, dear) All I could think of was how close I
came to losing the men I loved. Let me tell you, that thought
shocked me. I was raised in the old way, one man and one woman was
the limit. I actually had to take a whole day to think about the way
I felt. Being men from the Time Before, they looked very nervous
when I sat them down the next day and said we had to talk. (Ask the
Archivist, dear, he'll tell you why that's funny) I explained that I
realized I loved them all equally, as men and more than friends.
They admitted they loved me, but weren't sure how to express that
affection. I insisted on a slow development to the relationship, and
we spent at least a month in comfortable caring.
It was wonderful, being loved by three such different men, but
knowing we would all do anything for each other. Frohike, my dear
Mel, took a while to get over the fact that I was young enough to be
his daughter. I think my love for him gave him a better self-image
as he aged. He was gallant and cuddly, and could be quite vulgar in
a weird mood. But it was endearing in its own way. He was like
holding a bear. Normally lumbering and quiet, but a fierce protector
and dangerous when angered.
Byers, my lovely John, so tender and gentle. No one could replace
Suzanne in his heart, but I managed to fill some of the gaps and make
him feel loved again. He was always the one to hold me, to calm me
down when I needed it. My eye of the storm. Our love was a blending
of colors, of interlinked hands.
Langly. Ah, my fierce lion. He always seemed so warm, I never
needed as many blankets when next to him. I was his first. I know I
wasn't his only, but I couldn't begrudge his knowing what else was
possible later. But he was always so heated, so passionate. I
hardly ever called him Richard, never Ringo. Maybe Ree in more
private moments, but Langly suited his panther-like movements. I
loved feeling stalked and captured by him.
On occasion, we would all fall into love at the same time. The guys
were very slow to be affectionate with each other, but they came to
realize that it was just another expression of their feelings for
each other. It was as if they stopped being a tripod holding me up,
and we four became the base of a pyramid, meeting at the top. We
kept separate bedrooms for sanity's sake, but occasionally drug the
mattresses together as we ourselves became one.
Forgive my tears, this is not easy to recall. Let me focus on the
good parts first. Mulder and Scully came to get us and take us back
to "civilization". They were a little surprised by our relationship,
but accepted it more readily than most. They of all people could see
how things would never be the same again.. I think they were happy
for us, for having found such a peace. We did discuss if we really
wanted to go back, but in the end, we found that we wanted more human
contact. So we packed our belongings and said farewell to our
idyllic honeymoon home.
A year later… Sorry. It still hurts after all this time. A year
later, we lost Mel. The vaccine may have protected him from aliens,
but nothing protected him from pneumonia. If that stubborn damn fool
hadn't stayed out on guard duty through the rain so Mulder could
sleep. It wouldn't have killed Mulder… Sorry, dear. I miss my bear
so much. Perhaps soon I'll see him again. On a happy note, however,
I'm sure he heard my last words. I visited him under mask and gown
in the infirmary, although Scully wasn't pleased. I know I felt him
squeeze my hand as I managed to tell him about Melissa. I didn't
know then that it would be a girl. I also wasn't truly sure as to
her parentage until several months later, when I asked Scully to do a
DNA test. The knowledge that a part of Mel would continue made it a
little easier for all of us. When she married Chancellor William, we
all cried. We know Mel would have been so proud. I'm sure he was
watching.
At least Langly got to see his children grow up, mostly. He passed
on in Freedom Year 15, or 2020 as I knew it. We knew his heart
would give out eventually with that murmur it had. Guess he wasn't a
complete hypochondriac. Langly, Byers and I had three more children
between us. It was obvious that Annie and Michael were Langly's,
with that beautiful blond hair and ocean-colored eyes. He always
said that Annie's hair was strawberry blonde, but I don't think my
red came out that much in her. I know Byers gave her away when she
married, but she always mourned that her biological father wasn't
there. Michael lives in another town, but visits as often as he
can. We often find it funny how the child of such a rebel actually
takes after his mentor, Walter Skinner. He's so quiet, but so strong
and smart. I'm sure he's a born leader.
My third child was definitely the child of my gentle John. Sean is a
dreamer and a poet, and so good with kids. He hasn't found a wife
yet, but I think that Beth he's been seeing is a definite
possibility. Byers tells me not to nag about grandkids, but I know
he would love to see more babies with soft brown eyes and auburn
hair. Sean definitely got a combo of my hair and John's. I got
fixed after Scully said I really shouldn't have any more after
Michael, but John and I didn't mind all the local kids coming
around. It was like a big adopted family, and he got to be a father
four times before as well. Not to mention all the grandkids Annie
and Melissa have given us. I know we see Frohike and Langly in their
eyes.
I'll give you more details, but I really need to lay down now. Like
I told the Archivist, I'm getting tired easier these days. Perhaps
I'll go see him tonight and reminisce. It's been a hard life, but
it's been good. In this world or the next, our family will go on.