Title: The Beach II Author: Erin M. Blair E-Mail: eblair@sonic.net Classification: SR--Story, Romance Content: Mulder/Scully Married. Time Span/Spoilers: None. Sequel to "The Beach" Rating: PG. Distribution/Archive Statement: OK to Gossamer, Xemplary, Ephemeral, FanficX, Basement Office. Others: ask me first. All of my stories are archived at my personal archive. Acknowledgement: Special thanks to Jen who beta read this story. Disclaimer: Mulder and Scully belong to Chris Carter; Amelia Mulder belongs to me. Summary: Years laters, Mulder and Scully bring their daughter, Amelia, to the beach. Sequel to "The Beach." ------------------------------------ THE BEACH II Written by: Erin M. Blair ------------------------------------ They watched their small daughter, Amelia, building a sand castle -- or rather, *trying* to build one. Every time the young girl put a mound of sand for the castle, it fell apart. "Daddy, can you help me?" Mulder nodded. He bent down next to his daughter and help her. "You need to wet the sand, Amy." "Really?" asked Amelia. "I thought I did." "No, it needs to be moist so the sand will stick together." Scully watched Mulder playing with their daughter. A miracle child from the beginning of creation to delivery. Scully closed her eyes to remember what the doctors had told her: that Amelia wouldn't survive after being exposed to a certain extraterrestial virus. They thought she would die. They thought Amelia wouldn't survive the night. Like her mother, Amelia fought to survive and won. Amelia beat the odds against her during the moment she was conceived -- and again during the moment she was delivered. "Mommy?" Scully saw Amelia looking up with her hazel eyes and she knew she wanted her to help her with the sand castle too. "Yes, Amy?" "Does sand really need water to stick together?" Scully nodded. "If you want to build a sand castle, you need to moisten the sand." "I told you, Amy," said Mulder with a laugh. Scully noticed Amelia frowned and then threw a questioning glance at both parents. "Amy, you certainly remind me so much of myself." "Really?" inquired Amelia. Her hazel eyes brimmed with a mixture of curiousity and delight. "How?" Scully gave Amelia a little hug and smiled at her. "You're very skeptical, Amy." Scully turned to face Mulder. "I'm sure your daddy would think of other ways besides the obvious." A short pause. "Right Mulder?" Mulder nodded. "Besides how you have auburn hair?" "Yeah," said Scully. The little girl decided to take her parents advice and she added a bit of water to the sand. Sure enought, her castle held together. "It worked!" "I knew it would," said Mulder. * * * After putting little Amelia to bed, Mulder and Scully settled down for a quiet night together. Scully could feel Mulder's eyes on her and knew he wanted to tell her something. "What?" "We should go to the beach every single day, Scully." A deep sigh escaped Scully's body as her lips turned upside down for a frown. "We can't, Mulder." "Why not?" "We work, remember?" "I know. Aren't we due for a vacation?" Scully nodded. "Yes. We're long overdue for one but it's not a good time." "Why not?" "Our life at the FBI - we always get cases all the time - and we're married with a little girl." "So? We can take some time off, Scully. Skinner'll understand." Scully got up and went to the calendar. She flipped to the month of June. "Early part of June would be fine with me." "So it's settled then?" Scully nodded. "Yes, it is." A short pause. "We'll return to the beach then." End of Story NEXT UP: "The Beach III" Feedback: Much appreciated. Send to: eblair@sonic.net Author's Notes: This story's a follow up to "The Beach" in a short series of the times Mulder and Scully went to the beach. First one was about their true feelings being discovered but this one focuses on their daughter, Amy. The next one will be about Mulder and Scully's June trip to the beach with Amy. I hope you'll like the new trilogy when the stories will be finished. Dedication: To anyone who loves the salty ocean smell of the beach.