What I plan to do when X-Files 3 hits the theaters.

The night X-Files 3 opens in my local theater, I will be the first one in line for the movies. I will have purchased my ticket at home the moment it went up for sale. My sons will know I'm staring at the marquee poster of the dynamic duo, by the brightness in my eyes, the flush to my face, the quickness of my breath. We're first in line at the snack counter, I grab handfuls of extra napkins, not all of them will be for wiping hands and faces. I know that this third movie will be the end. This is the final culmination of a journey I started back in 1993.

I was bored one night, and I was flipping through the channels when I caught the opening sequence. I left it on. My three year old son woke up, and climbed on my lap. We snuggled under a blanket and watched the X-Files. He soon drifted off to sleep, and I lay there slowly being drawn into the longest affair of my existence, next to parenthood. I know that this is where Mulder and Scully get their happily ever after. This is where we see everything they have ever sacrificed something for, come to fruition. Where we see the Consortium, and it's minions get the justice they so richly deserve.

This is where we see Mulder and Scully save the world and get to go sit on a beach where Mulder makes sand castles with William. We get to see some old friends, and catch up on their lives in the alloted time.

I warn my younger two who looooooooooove to talk during movies, if they so much as make a peep, no video games until their 18. We load up with drinks and treats, and move on into the theater. Fith row from front we take the row. I listen as other philes, and curiosity seekers filter in.

With nervous energy I count down to the time until the lights dim down, and the opening sequence starts.

A montage of Mulder and Scully stills from over the years flashes across the screen, the haunting theme echos around me. My family knows not to talk, they've watched every episode on netflix ten times over.

I questioned and answered them to death to make sure there are no questions during the movie. My twelve year old snuggles into me, as close as theater seats aloud and whisper's in my ear. "Mom, Scully's a ginger." I smile as I know where my son's love of red heads comes from. Even if he does not.

My ten year old snuggles up on my other side, and whisper's ,"look mom, it's Mulder!" Loud enough that I hear my 16 year old groan in embarassment. What he doesn't realize is that half the women in just our theater feel the same way about the man. That there is not a showing anywhere where you won't find like.

I hear my twenty one year old laugh quickly, and shortly. "Shhhhhh no talking." His girl friend whose about as tall as Scully, whispering in his ear. I smile knowing again where he get's his infinity for the petite. I smile even broader as she talks about her nursing classes. No the X-Files hasn't influenced this family much.

I'll gasp, cheer, and cry in all the right places. The movie will end, the lights come up. The boys will all stand up and gather their things, they'll all lean over and kiss me goodbye. I admonish the younger two to make sure they're in bed on time. My twenty-one year old leans over and tells me I'm a nut. I tell him "No, I'm a Phile." I hand the usher my ticket, take a quick break go to the bathroom, grab some snacks, and I'm back in row five wondering how much longer until the movie begins.