Title : Hecate's Season

Author : Kelly Moreland

Archive :Anywhere, just let me know.

Spoilers : Requiem

Rating : G

Category : MSR, V, MM/SP (Mulder Missing/Scully Pregnant) 

Summary : A dream prompts Scully on an unusual adventure.

Feedback :  k_a_moreland@hotmail.com

Disclaimer : In the big inning, CC *created* M & S, and the
fans saw that it was good. Then CC proclaimed 'Let them have
any fun, and I will sue you!' And the fans saw that this was
bad, and did it anyway. ;-)

Authors note : Many many thanks to Andrea and Jemirah for 
beta'ing and most of all, for understanding.




Hecate's Season

by Kelly Moreland




It was the dream that did it, she reasoned, drawing a deep breath
and pushing the door open. She could blame all this insanity on a
dream. She had to blame it on something, because this was the
sort of place she would never set foot in. Except maybe while on
a case and she didn't even have that as an excuse right now.

No, she was on medical leave for a couple of months. Skinner's
idea, and he had processed the forms with a speed that was
dizzying. The day she had been released from the hospital, it was
approved. She'd been furious, at first, but then he explained his
reasoning for the hundredth time.

"What you need right now is to take care of yourself and the
child you are carrying; not work. When you are past the first
trimester, you can come back. Not until then."

He would not be swayed by anything she said, any counter argument
she had. He was rock solid.

So she had wandered around her apartment in a tumultuous daze.
Achingly sad about Mulder at times, and giddy about the baby at
others. She knew it was the pregnancy, and the change in her
hormones that added to the mood swings. And the dreams. As a
doctor, she knew that many pregnant women had strange dreams.
Vivid dreams.

Like the one that had brought her here.

The cool, scented air from inside the shop washed over as she
crossed the threshold, the door closing behind her with the soft
tinkling of a hidden bell.

Only Melissa, even in a dream, could convince her to visit an
occult shop.

She knew it was silly. Downright absurd. But when she had
awakened this morning the urge to come here was undeniable.
Melissa had even given her the name of this shop specifically.

"Bell, Book and Candle, Dane. Go there."

"Why, Missy? What am I supposed to do when I get there?"

"Talk to someone. An old friend of mine."

Then, being typically Melissa-ish, she had vanished before saying
the friend's name.

"This is ridiculous," Scully muttered to herself, realization
sinking in. Here she was. A sensible, level-headed woman,
standing in the middle of an occult store, obeying the wish of
her deceased sister. No, scratch that, this was *way* past
ridiculous.

She turned toward the door just as a woman's voice spoke up.

"May I help you?"

The owner of the voice emerged from a hallway just then. If you
could lookup 'occult store proprietors' in a dictionary, this
woman's picture would have been there. She wore a long black
skirt, a black tank top, and too many rings to count. Not to
mention the pentacle that hung around her neck.

"No, I.. Uh, was just leaving..." Scully stammered, feeling a
faint blush creep into her cheeks.

"Chamomile."

"Excuse me?" Scully asked, her hand reaching for the doorknob to
make good her escape.

"Chamomile tea. It's good for the nerves and won't hurt the
baby."

Her hand faltered then, missing the knob on the door completely,
as her eyes riveted back to the woman who spoke.

"How can you..." Scully's voice trailed off as a chill traveled
the length of her spine.

"A mother can see, one about to be," she answered with a bright
smile. "I'm Layla, and you are?"

"Dana. Dana Scully."

"Would you like a cup of tea, Dana? I was just about to have one
myself. Maybe we could talk for a few minutes."

Scully nodded mutely, and then followed Layla down the hallway to
a large disarrayed office. At Layla's insistence she sat down on
a leather couch directly across from the desk.

"How far along are you?" Layla asked, as she set out two mugs and
busied herself with heating water through the coffee maker.

"About six weeks," Scully replied, unable to stop the smile that
spread across her face.

"Your first?"

She hesitated a moment before answering, "Yes."

Layla picked up a small framed picture from her desk and held it
out to Scully.

"That's my Ethan. He's seven months old."

"He's beautiful," Scully said, looking at the dark haired, dark
eyed boy who was the perfect image of his mother.

"Thank you. He's my pride and joy. Are you hoping for a boy or a
girl?"

"Either. Just a healthy baby will be fine," Scully grinned.

"Well, let me give you some advice. Don't paint your nursery
pink," Layla smiled mysteriously.

"Why is that?"

"Blue would be a better choice. If you're going with traditional
colors, that is."

"You think it's a boy?"

"No, I *know* he is. He'll have your face, but his father's hazel
eyes. He'll be his father's son through and through."

"How do you know his father has hazel eyes?" Scully asked,
feeling a twinge of uneasiness sinking in.

"I see things, I know things. Just like you do. Call it women's
intuition. Just like I know his father is away."

The coffee maker gurgled, breaking the tension that had settled
in and Layla rose, quickly making two cups of Chamomile tea. A
moment later she handed one to Scully, and sat down behind her
desk once again.

"Does he know yet?" Layla asked at length.

"No. I didn't find out until after he left."

"Doesn't matter. He'll be ecstatic, don't worry. It's his first
too, isn't it?"

"Yes," she answered softly. "I hope he comes back soon."

"He won't be there for the birth. But he'll be there soon after.
Consider the name William. He likes that name," Layla nodded
decisively.

Scully could only stare at the woman who sat across from her.

"Dana," Layla said softly. "I'm pretty certain that our religions
are vastly different, but I'd like to tell you something about
mine."

"You're Wiccan?" Scully asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yes, and I want to tell you that your son will be born in
Hecate's season. Hecate is the dark goddess. Not dark as in bad,
but dark as in the time of year. She rules the months between
October and January. She is the goddess of the crossroads. Where
ever three paths cross, there she stands. The Romans and the
Greeks left offerings for her in crossroads. In Greek, Hecate
literally means 'Influence from afar'. Rather fitting, don't you
think, considering his father is away?"

Scully sipped her tea, choosing to remain silent.

"Children born in Hecate's season tend to be quiet, creative, to
have the power and wisdom to pierce the darkness, see visions,
call back the past, illuminate the present and give warning or
promise of the future."

"Then, in that alone he would be his father's son," Scully said
quietly.

"But he'll be your son too. You'll balance him with strength and
reason. He'll be a good man, and a leader when the time comes."

"Leader of what?" Scully whispered, the chill from earlier
settling deeper into her.

"I'm not sure right now," Layla answered, staring off into space.
"But he'll be the kind of man other men will follow without
question. And it's a power he'll never use lightly. I look
forward to meeting him one day."

"I should go now," she said, standing up suddenly.

"I'm sorry Dana. I didn't mean to frighten you," Layla apologized
quickly.

"No, I'm just.. a little tired."

"All right, I'll see you out then."

Scully walked quickly to the door, feeling as if part of her life
had just been revealed by accident, and trying to convince
herself that it was just the speculations of a stranger.

"Drop by and see me again sometime," Layla said as she opened the
door.

"I may do that," Scully answered with a strained smile, before
closing the door behind her.

Layla watched as the red-head got into her car and pulled out
onto the street.

"Yes, Melissa, your new nephew will be a force to contend with,"
she said to the empty shop around her.




~Fini