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Title: A Merry Little Christmas (Sequel to Not So Silent Night) Summary: Maggie Scully takes matters, and Christmas, into her own hands. "Have yourself a Merry little Christmas --"a Merry Little Christmas" He took in her carefully composed face, her hands loosely folded in her lap, her crisp, professional attire and felt the strongest sense of dij' vu. His eyes darted away from her face to the pictures on the wall, to his bookshelf, the flag in the corner. He didn't know what to say to her and damn if that didn't feel familiar. How did he tell her that there wasn't anything more he could do, that once again all they could do was wait? He felt her eyes on him, watching, waiting. She clearly wasn't going to leave until he said something, offered some reassurance. He sighed and rubbed at his forehead as if the pressure might solidify his thoughts. How to present this with the right combination of sympathy, strength and resignation... "Mrs.-" he began. "Maggie," he said firmly. "And I hope you don't mind if I call you Walter. After all these years and all these 'incidents', I would think we are on a first name basis." "Maggie," he repeated slowly, turning the name over in his mouth. He sighed and sat back deeper in his chair. His fingers itched to pick up a pen and tap it or flip it. Do something to keep his hands for clenching. "Maggie," he said again. "I know how you feel. I-" "With all due respect, Walter, I don't think you do. Not exactly. I know you care about Dana and Fox. You've shown that many, many times. But she's my daughter, Walter. The only one I have left, and it is killing me to see her like this." Maggie sat forward in the standard issue visitor's chair and put her hand on the edge of his desk. Her eyes drilled into his. "She has a beautiful, wonderful baby and that's a miracle. And she's grateful for him, as am I. But she can't enjoy the wonder of being a new mother, can't really be a mother as long as she not only has to look over her shoulder but also wonder where Fox is and if he's going to be okay. It's just too much." "I know," he said simply. "And I am trying to help them as much as I can-" "I understand that," she interrupted. "And we've been over this. I don't want the party line, Walter, and I don't want to hear about national security or need-to-know or any other bureaucratic crap. I understand that your hands are tied. You have a career, a life to protect and I respect that. I do. So what I am asking you is to tell me how I can help them." "Maggie, I-" he began and got no further. "I am not some simple little housefrau, Walter Skinner," Maggie scolded. "I was the wife of a high ranking naval officer and I know a few things about how this town works. I also have connections. I haven't used them much with regards to Dana and Fox because Dana has always made it implicitly clear that she would not welcome my interference. That's fine. I respect that, too. But the time has come to take the gloves off, if you will, and there is nothing, Nothing that is going to stop me from trying to correct this situation." Walter stared at her, aware that his mouth was slightly agape. He had a very, very bad feeling about this. From the first time he had met Maggie Scully he had known where Scully got her fierce independence and fortitude from. Daddy might have been a badass soldier boy but Mommy was the one made out of steel. "Maggie, I, uh, I..." Now that she was willing to let him talk, he didn't know what to say. A feeling of helplessness was washing over him and his adrenal glands were calling a red alert and sounding the call for adrenaline to come to the rescue. He had to do something soon or he was going to self combust. "I know a nice French cafi not far from here," he heard himself croak. "How about we continue this conversation over lunch?" Mulder yawned and stretched, opening his eyes long enough to see the fading light through the curtains. He must have slept a good couple of hours. He raised his head to see that Will was no longer in the crib and grimaced. Not good when the old man had to sleep longer than the kid. He jackknifed himself into a sitting position and scrubbed his hands through his hair, knowing it was standing up in every direction. He had slept hard and could feel the dried strings of saliva on his cheek. Oh yeah, that was sexy. Not only did he spend his first afternoon with Scully in over seven months sound asleep but he drooled on himself as well. He padded into the bathroom to wash his face and try to control his hair. He scowled at the wisps of gray that decorated his temples. He was too goddamn young to have gray hair. He had a baby, for God's sake. He turned his head one way and then the next. It wasn't that the gray made him look bad...just old. Older. He wasn't ready to be older. Not now when his life was about to really start. He splashed his face with water and sucked in a mouthful to rinse his teeth and spit it out. "Hey you," Scully said from the doorway and their eyes met in the mirror. He couldn't help it, he smiled at her and she returned the favor, her blue eyes shining. "Sleep well?" "I must have," he said, drying his face. "I drooled all over myself." "Like father like son," he said lightly, her eyes dancing. He rolled his eyes and she chuckled. "Ready for your afternoon snack? Will's already had his." Mulder turned to her and arched an eyebrow at her suggestively. "I'm always ready for a Scully snack," he said and it was her turn for an eye roll. "Mulderrr," he said. "Mom made a pecan pie. It's still warm." "Hmm," he said, fingering his chin. "Scully snack or pecan pie? That's a tough decision..." She smacked him lightly on the chest and turned back into the bedroom. "There's no decision to make. It's pecan pie or bust." He followed her into the bedroom. "Aw, c'mon, Scully. You said you missed me." She gave him 'the look' as she smoothed the bedspread. "I did miss you, Mulder. And if we weren't in my mother's house with my brothers due to arrive any minute, I would take you up on that snack. But as it is, I'm sure my mother heard far too much last night." He grinned wolfishly at that as he scooped up a pillow and plumped it. "Your mother was married to a seaman, Scully. She knows what long separations do to a couple." "Uh huh," Scully said, unconvinced. "That doesn't mean she wants to listen to her daughter have sex. It certainly doesn't mean that I want her to hear us having sex, either." She walked to the door and he caught up to her in two quick strides, wrapping his arms around her and bending to capture her earlobe in his mouth. She squealed and wriggled to get away from him. "Mulder! Behave!" she hissed sotto voce. "Relax," he murmured as he nuzzled her neck. "You have nothing to worry about with your mom." "What do you mean?" she asked suspiciously. What had the two of them been talking about over the breakfast dishes while she had bathed and changed Will? Heaven only knew what they had dreamed up... "I just happen to know that your mother did not hear us having sex last night." She turned to face him, his arms still wrapped around her waist. "How do you know that?" she demanded, horrified. "You talked to her about it?" He snickered and kissed the end of her nose. "No. But I was the first one downstairs this morning and I just happened to see her putting blankets and a pillow back in the closet. She slept on the couch last night." "She what?" Scully said, wide eyed. "Why?" He kissed her mole and then her lips. "Because," he said, his breath tickling her skin and making her shiver. "She was married to a navy man and she knows what reunions are all about." Scully leaned her forehead against his chest and moaned. "I don't know what is worse. My mother hearing me having sex or my mother just imagining me having sex." He hugged her close and kissed the top of her head. "Well, ask yourself, Scully. Would you rather hear Will having sex, or would you rather just imagine it." Scully knocked her head against his chest and sighed. "Mulder, you do remember that I shot you once, don't you?" Mulder was bouncing Will in his arms and dancing around to Jingle Bell Rock when the front door burst open and the wind blew in all 6'3" 215 pounds of Bill Scully Jr. "Ho ho ho!" Bill exclaimed. "Merrrry Christmas!" Bill strode into the living room, a seaman's bag stuffed full of presents slung over his shoulder and a Santa cap perched on his head. He went stock-still as his eyes locked with Mulder's. The two men stood staring at each other in silence. Bill's face quickly turned an alarming shade of red and Mulder's lips thinned as they eyed each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. Behind Mulder, Scully rose from the couch and moved between the two men. The stand-off was broken by a mini-Bill whirlwind blasting into the room. "Aunt Dana!" Matty shrieked and threw himself into Scully's arms. She laughed as she caught him and spun him around. "Shrimp!" she exclaimed. "Look how much you've grown!" Matt giggled as she put him down. "I'm not a shrimp anymore, Aunt Dana. Daddy says I'm going to be big and strong like him." Matt turned to grin at his father who tore his eyes away from Mulder long enough to look down at his son and nod. Seeing the object of his father's attention, Matt turned to Mulder. "Wow, is that Will? He's really big now!" "That's him," Scully said, ruffling Matt's hair. "He's growing like a weed, just like you." Matt's attention shifted to Mulder. "Are you Mulder?" "Yes, I am," Mulder said, smiling at the boy. Matt tilted his head as he regarded the father and son combo. "Are you Will's daddy?" "Matthew!" Bill snapped. "You don't ask questions like that." Matt frowned at his father. "But why not? Mommy says that-" "Nevermind what Mommy says," Bill said, hurriedly. "Come on, we need to unload the car." Matt looked back up at Mulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be rude," he said very formally, obviously well coached by his mother in these matters. "I was just curious." "It's okay, " Mulder said. His eyes flicked to Bill's retreating back. "And the answer to your questions is yes, I'm Will's daddy." Mulder watched with satisfaction as Bill's back stiffened and he paused in the doorway before stomping to the front door. Beside him, Mulder heard Scully sigh. "All I'm saying, Mulder, is don't egg him on," Scully hissed. She blew a wayward piece of hair out of her eyes and checked the bedroom doorway for the hundredth time. She did not want Bill to see her and Mulder arguing. "I didn't egg him on," Mulder insisted, lowering his voice to a whisper when her eyebrow twitched at him again. "I just answered Matty's question. Truthfully." Scully's eyebrow did another dance. "And you did it, knowing it would get to him. Dammit, Mulder, I am not asking you to deny that Will is your son, I just don't want you to mash it in Bill's face." "Why not?" Mulder challenged, his hands on his hips. "He doesn't treat me with kid gloves." Scully opened her mouth to reply, but Mulder stopped her with an upturned hand. "I don't want to start trouble here, Scully. I want this Christmas to be nice, too. More than anyone else. And I've taken Bill's shit all these years and frankly, I've agreed with some of the points that he's made. I have dragged you into dangerous situations. It is my fault that you got abducted and got cancer-" "That is pure bullshit, Mulder. But we can chew that old bone another time. The point is that I do want a pleasant Christmas and we can't have that if you and Billy are squaring off every five minutes." Mulder sighed and looked away briefly before looking back down at her. "All I'm saying is that before it didn't really matter what Bill thought of me. I didn't like putting you in that situation, but I took his crap because it wasn't worth the trouble to give it back to him. But this is different, Scully. I'm not going to apologize for Will, or being his father, or for being with you. And I know it's Christmas and the time for forgiveness and all that, but it is also the time to set some boundaries for your brother. I won't have Will growing up thinking I'm a wuss and his uncle is a bully." Scully offered him a wan smile. "His uncle is a bully, but his father is not a wuss. I hear what you're saying, Mulder. And I know Bill is making it very hard. But please try. For Mom, for me. I don't want you to bow to him, just give a little. Okay?" He nodded tightly. She reached out and stroked his chest, looking up at him with her clear blue eyes, knowing that the combination would take the fight out of him. "And for what it's worth, Mulder," he said with a small smile. "I can't tell you how much I love hearing you talk about our future together. We've never had a chance to talk about what was going to really happen when you came back." "Details," he said quietly. "That's all there is to work out. You're stuck with me for good, Scully. I guarantee it." She proffered him one of her rare blinding smiles. "And you're stuck with me." She grinned even wider. "And my family." Mulder groaned as she tugged him towards the stairs and the Scully clan. "Have yourself a Merry little Christmas --"a Merry Little Christmas" He straightened his tie and picked up his tie tack. He wanted to look just right for this lunch. Not so long ago, it would never have occurred to him to think about Maggie in this way. It was totally out of bounds. But now, things were different, and he had been thrilled when she had called and asked him out to lunch. He checked himself in the mirror and frowned. Too formal. He stepped back and pivoted to one side and then the other. It was too much for a lunch. For dinner, a suit would be appropriate. Of course, in the old days, a suit would have been required for both. But he suspected that despite her traditional manner and conservative faith, Maggie Scully kept up quite nicely with the times. It wasn't likely that she was coming to this lunch in chiffon and pearls. He strode briskly to the closet and began perusing its meager selection. He wasn't much of a clothes horse, never had been. Perhaps the early military life had ingrained that in him. Keep it simple and necessary. He hadn't seen Maggie in a long time and he wondered what she would look like. In his mind's eye he saw her slender figure and thick brown hair. She had always had such an air of grace about her. He was betting that she still did. He didn't quite know what to think of her invitation, out of the blue as it was. But the sound of her voice and the suggestion of lunch together had stirred something in him that had been dormant for over two years. He had eagerly accepted her invitation and decided to wait and see what she wanted. He chose a maroon sweater and a gray button shirt to go under it. Ruth had given them to him on their last Christmas. She hadn't been able to do much shopping that year. The cancer was moving fast. But she had still found a way to get him these. 'They set off your silver hair so nicely,' she had said. It hurt to think about her wasted frame swallowed by the recliner as she sat next to the Christmas tree in the family room. Six weeks later she was dead. He checked himself in the mirror again, smoothing an invisible hair back, and picked up his keys. Maggie smiled graciously at the young man who held the door for her. She slipped into the restaurant, her eyes searching for the familiar form. He stood, rather stiffly, next to a lavishly decorated Christmas tree. They saw each other at the same time and smiled, moving towards one another. He pulled her into a fond embrace and she was reminded how tall he was. She pulled back and smiled up into his expectant face. "Phil, it is so good to see you. Thank you for accepting my invitation." "It's great to see you, Maggie. I was so pleased when you called." He turned and nodded at the hostess who immediately picked up two menus and asked for them to follow her. Maggie's eyebrows raised as they were ushered past the several other people waiting for tables. Clearly, some things had not changed with Phil's retirement. They were seated at a table with a view and had ordered their meals while playing catch-up with each other's lives and families. By the time the entrees arrived a comfortable rapport was established and Maggie took a deep breath and dove right in. "Phil, I'm sure you're wondering why I called you out of the blue like this," he said, pushing her Chinese chicken salad around her plate. "And I do apologize for pulling you away from your family around the holidays." He tilted his head to one side and favored her with a slow, easy smile. In his heyday that smile had made many a pretty woman blush and he was delighted to see her eyes widen slightly. Forget the new tricks, this dog had some pretty good old tricks. "I did wonder why you called me," he said with a half smile, watching as it dawned on her that he was indeed flirting with her. "But I was happy to hear from you. The girls don't even get into town until tomorrow night. I was just rattling around that big old house by myself." Maggie cleared her throat and looked out the window for a quick moment before bringing her gaze back to him. "I called you because I was hoping that you could help me with a problem." She paused. "It has to do with Dana." He frowned as he cut into his food. "Dana was always pretty straight-laced, as I recall. What sort of trouble is she in?" "Well," Maggie looked down at her hands. "It's hard to explain. There's a problem in the Bureau and-" "I thought she was teaching at Quantico now." "She is and she loves it. I really think she does. But, well, during the time that she was assigned to The X-Files, she and her partner stirred up some pretty big hornet's nests." "Mulder, right?" he asked. "a bit of a loose canon as I recall. Believed in aliens or something like that." "Yes," Maggie said, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. "But that really isn't the point. Fox - Mulder - left the Bureau almost a year ago. He was forced out, really. And he and Dana have uncovered evidence of some sort of conspiracy in the government and apparently it runs deep in the FBI." She balled her hands into fists and sought Phil's eyes. "Their lives have been threatened because of it." He put his fork down. "By who?" Maggie shrugged. "I don't know names, but I know these are people who work for the government, for the FBI and heaven knows who else. It got so bad that Mulder had to go into hiding to keep him and Dana safe." She leaned forward, piercing him with her intensity. "It has to stop, Phil. Dana can't live her whole life with this shadow over her. And she has a son to think of now." "I assume they've tried to go through official channels?" Maggie snorted and gestured dismissively. "For all the good it did. They suspect that one of their superiors is in on it. And Walter agrees but-" "Walter?" Phil interjected. "Walter Skinner?" "Yes," Maggie said. "I've talked to him." "There's not much he can do to help you, Maggie. I don't think he even realizes just how close he is to getting the boot himself. Some people in high places have a real axe to grind with him." Maggie eyed him. "So, you're still in contact with people then? You keep abreast of what's going on." It was his turn to shift uncomfortably in his seat. This was not turning out to the be lunch date he had been hoping for. He could already see that his plans to follow up a friendly lunch with an intimate dinner and possibly a trip to the Cape for the New Year were going to go nowhere. "I still see some of the guys," he admitted. "We play golf, cards, that sort of thing." "The old boys club," Maggie said factually and he grimaced despite her lack of censure. It was as true now as fifty years ago. Sure, there were women in the Agency and the Bureau these days, but the men still made the decisions. The door to the insider's club was still firmly barred. "I need your help, Phil," Maggie said softly. "I need to find out who exactly is threatening them and put a stop to it." "Oh Maggie," he said. "You don't realize what you're talking about. First of all, we don't even know if there is a real threat. I've heard that Mulder guy is pretty paranoid. And secondly-" "The threats are real, Phil," he said sternly. "Mulder wouldn't leave his family behind if he and Dana didn't think they were in real danger." Phil frowned and sat back in his seat. "Family? Do you mean-is Mulder the father of Dana's baby?" Maggie pursed her lips and regarded him coolly. "I believe that falls under the need-to-know category, Phil." He nodded, impressed with her poker face and her skillful feint. He had heard the rumors of course, and paid attention only because they concerned the daughter of an old friend. By the time Mulder had come along Phil had already decided that despite the desires of others, the Directorship of the CIA was not for him. He wasn't high profile material and Ruth didn't really want him to be. He had taken a soft job a couple of steps down from the top and had kept it clean and simple until it was his time to go. The occasional headaches that the infamous Agent Mulder had created for the Agency had not been his problem. "Okay," he said slowly. "Let's say that they're right and there is a threat and it's from highly placed government people, including their superiors in the Bureau. Without knowing what exactly it is that they found out or what they are hiding, I can't see how you can solve the problem." "I just need access, Phil," Maggie said firmly. "I need to talk to someone who pulls the strings. Someone who will make these people sit up and take notice." "Again, it's hard to know-" "I want you to get me in to see Senator Hargrave," he said firmly. His mouth fell open. "The head of the Senate Judiciary Committee? Maggie, you can't be serious." "I'm very serious, Phil. I've done some research and he's going to be in town for a benefit on December 30th. I want to see him that afternoon." William found his cousin, Matty, utterly fascinating. And his focused attention was returned by the older cousin who repeatedly asked to hold, carry and watch William. Tara and Scully shared smiles over the two boys on the floor and stalwartly ignored the simmering scowl of Bill Scully in the corner of the room. Twenty-four hours of Mulder minding his manners and warning looks from every Scully woman in the house had not dimmed Bill's anger. Not even jovial Charlie and his equally boisterous wife, Megan had been able to lighten his mood. The white elephant stood fast in the middle of the room despite rounds of Christmas carols and gingerbread cake. Everyone knew it was only a matter of time and no one knew what to do about it. The tension had increased when Maggie had gone off to lunch with "an old friend" and told them to make due with the considerable stock in the kitchen. Charlie and Megan were vegetarians and Bill was meat and potatoes. After a rather heated discussion between the brothers about the virtues of eating animal flesh, the women had compromised with a Caesar's salad and grilled chicken. With the lunch dishes stacked in the dishwasher, Mulder, Charlie and Megan had gone off to the den to play Scrabble. Outraged shouts occasionally emanated from the room making Scully and Tara smile and causing Bill to glower over the edge of his book. As the clock chimed three, Maggie swept in the door. "I'm back," she called out cheerily, pulling off her hat and gloves. "Brr, it's cold out there!" Bill strode into the foyer. "How are the roads? They said on the news that we're going to get more snow tonight." Maggie smiled up at her oldest child. "The roads are fine. Crowded. Everyone is hurrying home to their families for the holidays." She checked her watch. "And speaking of families, I better get in the kitchen if I'm going to feed mine dinner tonight." She went into the kitchen with Bill close on her heels. "How was your lunch," he asked, leaning against the counter. "Fine," Maggie said, opening the refrigerator and pulling out eggs and milk. "We went to this little French Cafi that I discovered recently." "So, who is this old friend?" Bill asked bluntly and got a cocked eyebrow for his trouble. He shifted uncomfortably under his mother's stare. "Is it someone we know?" he finished lamely. Maggie eyed him for another moment before speaking. "Yes. Phil Dewalt. He and his wife Ruth used to vacation with us when you kids were very young. They had two daughters." "Monique and Ashley," Bill said. "I remember them. How are Phil and Ruth?" "Ruth died about two years ago," Maggie said, pulling items out of cupboards. "Phil is good. Retired from the Agency. His daughters both live on the west coast now. They're coming home for Christmas tomorrow." "That's nice," Bill said. "So, are you and Phil close?" Maggie put the flour down on the counter and turned to her son. "Maybe. Do you have a problem with that?" Bill looked down at his hands, resting on the counter. "No. I was just...wondering." "Because you think some man is making a move on your mother?" Maggie asked shrewdly. Bill flushed and bit his lip. "Is that so terrible?" he challenged. "I'm just concerned." Maggie sighed and turned back to the flour. "Bill, we really need to get some things straight." She looked up at him. "I know your father pounded the whole 'man of the house' thing into your head from early on. And I know how much you admired your father." She paused, searching for the right words. "But you need to realize that as much as your father tried to take care of and protect all of us, he also expected all of us to stand on our own two feet." "I know that," Bill said, sullenly. "Do you?" Maggie tilted her head and regarded him. "I sometime wonder if you forget it. Your father went away for months at a time and I took care of all four of you. The four of you learned to take care of yourselves. That hasn't changed." "I didn't mean-" "You didn't mean to be insulting," he said quietly, reaching out to touch his arm. "And you don't mean to be hurtful. But you are. You need to think before you speak, Bill. You need to think about what your words do to your brother and to your sister." Bill's eyes flashed angrily. "I'm only trying to help them, Mom. I swear, sometimes I can't believe that we're all related. Charlie's some kind of neo-hippy that I barely recognize. And Dana, well, you know how I feel about what she's done with her life." "Which is my point, Bill. We all know how you feel. You make it blatantly obvious. Which is hurtful to Charlie and Dana. It make me uncomfortable. Tara is embarrassed and Mulder is angry and..." "Mulder is angry!" Bill burst out. "I don't care what Mulder is, unless it's gone. It's too bad he didn't stay that way. It would be the best thing for Dana and Will if he never came back. If he-" "William Scully," Maggie thundered. "That is enough!" Maggie put her hands on her hips. "I have tried to do this the nice way. I have tried waiting for you to come to your senses, and now I see that I have been wasting my time." "You're not going to defend him," Bill said, incredulously. "He's gotten Dana hurt and almost killed a dozen times that we know of. He got her pregnant-" "Bill!" Maggie snapped. "Enough! Dana's life is her business. Charlie's life is his. And I expect it to stay that way, as long as you are in my house." "Mom, I-" "I mean it, Bill," Maggie said firmly. "I know you know how to take orders. You do it every day in the Navy. Well, I am the head of this family and that makes me your superior officer. And this is a direct order, young man. Leave your sister and your brother's lives alone. Resolve yourself to their choices and make your peace with it." Bill glared at her. "I can't just stand by and watch as-" "Yes, you can," Maggie said. "And you're going to, or you are not going to be welcome in this house until you do." Bill stared, open-mouthed at his mother. "You can't be serious," he breathed. "You would ostracize me for speaking my conscience?" "It's not your conscience to keep, Bill," Maggie said, her eyes never leaving his. "And I am very serious. Don't test me. You won't like the outcome." Bill blinked, then blinked again, his face a torrent of fleeting emotions. Maggie regarded her son wearily and sighed. She reached out and patted his arm. "Why don't you go to your room and think about this for a while. We can talk again, later." She turned away from him and started to make dinner. Behind her she heard Bill quietly leave the room and she slumped against the counter. She wondered if Bill would ever know what it cost her to issue that ultimatum. "Have yourself a Merry little Christmas --"a Merry Little Christmas" He watched as her hands absently caressed the fine soft curls beneath her fingers. She was smiling and laughing and stroking their son's head as he sat in her arms. It was the most beautiful thing Mulder had ever seen. He sipped his buttered rum and just sat, watching her. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that he was bound to call attention to himself with his forthright admiration of Scully. Big brother Bill was sure to notice and glower. But Mulder couldn't help himself. It had been so long since he had just had the pleasure of looking at her. She had changed in little ways and it pained him that he had not been there to see the changes occur. She was as thin and svelte as ever despite her insistence that she still had five pounds to lose. Knowing Scully, she would push herself until the scale said what she wanted it to, but he thought she looked perfect. Her body was more rounded than before. Curvier. It denoted her passage into motherhood, but it also gave her a softness that she had lacked before. It made him want her more than ever. He reminded himself to tell her that in bed tonight. He grimaced slightly at that thought. Ever since the rest of the family had arrived their private time had all but dissipated. Maggie had done her best; putting Bill in the room at the far end of the hall. But Scully was still sure that everyone would hear them if they did anything. Personally, he didn't care. He would open the window so the neighbors could hear, for all it mattered to him. But he wasn't going to push her. This visit wasn't about sex, it was about finding the strength to go on. To feed a little on each other's love before facing the fast ahead. Matty made a face and Will laughed, causing Scully to look down and beam at Will. His bright blue Scully eyes sparkled and he waved his hands in his excitement. "You want down, Will?" she asked and then set him on the floor, his back against the couch. Matty immediately crawled forward to hand his cousin a toy train to play with. Scully smiled at them and then looked up at Mulder. He felt a warmth spread through his chest as she smiled at him, her own Scully blues twinkling and warm. He smiled back, letting his love glow in his eyes and he saw her knowing smile in return. Scully turned to Tara. "Tara, would you mind watching Will for a few minutes. I need to talk to Mulder about something." Tara smiled nonchalantly, trying to hide her knowing smirk from Mulder, and nodded. Scully rose from the couch and stretched out her hand to Mulder. Without a word they climbed the stairs to their bedroom. Touch. Touch. Breathe. Shiver. Touch. Stroke. Afternoon sunlight streamed in through the frosted pane, flaring her red tresses into a red halo around her head as she rose above him. A clock on the nightstand ticked in the quiet of the room. Touch. Stroke. Gasp. He bit his lip to silence his moans, losing himself in the feeling of her hands sliding up and down his length, pumping him slowly. Kiss. Just one feather touch on his collarbone. Shiver. He arched his back as her fingers slid lower, rubbing and cupping his balls, sliding over them with agonizing slowness. The rustling sheets thundered in his ears as he tossed his head from side to side. Wet. Warm. Soft. He hissed as her mouth enveloped him, her tongue slipping along his length, twirling and twisting over his straining flesh. Heat. Slick. Her tongue danced over his tip and he jerked in response, pushing up against her and being rewarded when she pulled him up against the roof of her mouth, sucking him, pulling him in. Fire. Burning. Gasp. Circle. Slide. Suck. Circle. Slide. He gripped the sheets, twisting them in his fists. Faster. Harder. Circle. Slide. Suck. Circle. Suck. Suck. Fire. He threw his head back and arched against her, every muscle straining. The world exploded into red behind his closed eyelids. Breathe. Soft. Peace. His arms slid around her as she laid her head on his chest. Love. "Aunt Dana, Uncle Fox, Wake up!" a pint-sized torpedo bounced onto the bed and Scully opened her eyes to Matty's excited face. "Santa came, Aunt Dana! Get up!" Her eyes went to the clock. 6:15. Pretty respectable for his age. She grinned at him. "You have to get off of us first, Matty!" Beside her Mulder smiled sleepily at his new "nephew". Obligingly, Matty bounced off the bed and raced for the door. "Hurry up," he called from the hallway. "Grandma says we can't open presents until everyone is downstairs." His Dr. Denton covered feet pounded down the stairs. They looked at each other and burst into laughter. Next to them, in the crib, came a corresponding warble. Someone else was awake, too. Mulder made a panicked face. "Quick, pick it up before it goes off!" Scully laughed and threw back the covers. She reached into the crib and hoisted Will to her shoulder. "Hey, little man. Guess what? It's your very first Christmas!" She turned back to the bed and took in Mulder, reclining against the headboard, his hair rumpled, his sleepy eyes brimming with love and happiness. Her heart took a picture and tucked it away for the months ahead. This was what it was all for. A future with countless moments like these. She took one of Will's tiny hands and waved it at Mulder. "Say, 'Merry Christmas, Daddy!'," he said. Will laughed and waved his hand all by himself, making his father grin with pride. She arched an eyebrow at Mulder. "Shall we join the others before Matty storms our room again?" "Sounds good to me," Mulder replied, throwing back the covers and climbing out of bed. He reached for his t-shirt and slide it down over his pajama bottoms. "Am I decent enough?" She reached up and kissed him on the nose. "More than enough." Despite Bill's enormous garbage bag and strict orders to immediately turn over any refuse, wrapping paper and ribbons were scattered around the living room. While enamored with his new stuffed Orangutan (from Daddy) and his new blocks (Aunt Tara), Will's favorite gift of the day was the wrapping. He grabbed it, crunched it, ripped it and stuffed it in his mouth. Matty helped by burying his cousin in tissue paper and sticking a red bow on his head. Maggie had taken three rolls of film. Scully thought her heart was going to burst and her face hurt from smiling so much. She could feel Mulder's long lean thigh pressed against hers as they sat on the couch watching their son. Their hands were loosely entwined, parting frequently to balance Will or pull something out of his mouth. But like magnets their fingers always found each other again. Mulder was stroking the back of her hand with his thumb and she couldn't stop smiling at everyone. Even Bill. Maggie was in the kitchen putting together the big Christmas breakfast which would be followed in short order by a big Christmas dinner. Scully had decided to take the day off from counting carbs and fat grams. The smell of the eggs Benedict was making her mouth water. The doorbell rang and Bill went to answer it. She turned to Mulder. "When are the guys coming over?" He shrugged. "I don't know, exactly. They were waiting for a couple of their friends to come and take up the surveillance while they're here." She frowned. "They didn't tell them who or why, did they?" "No. Just fed the guys something about international conspiracy, highest government officials, blah, blah. I guess these two ate it up, couldn't wait to be part of it." Scully snorted. "Real comic book stuff. They should try living it for a while." He squeezed her hand in a silent apology and she squeezed back. No apology necessary. She had come out more than ahead. She saw Mulder's gaze shift over her shoulder. "Merry Christmas, Sir," Mulder said, climbing to his feet. Scully turned in surprise to see Walter Skinner standing awkwardly in the doorway next to a confused looking Bill. Mulder strode forward and offered his hand to Skinner who shook it heartily and with relief. "It's good to see you, Mulder. I had no idea you would be here." Mulder smiled. "Neither did anyone else. Had to keep it that way, I'm afraid." Skinner nodded abruptly and turned to Scully. "Dana, you're looking good. Quantico agrees with you." She handed Will to Megan and Charlie and went to Skinner. "Yes, although I miss working with you." He reached out his hand and she surprised everyone, including herself, by reaching up and pulling him into a hug. His long arms held her hesitantly for a moment before hugging her back. She stepped back and smiled at him. "I'm glad you could join us, Sir." "Walter, please," he said. "No protocol on Christmas." She nodded and ushered him into the living room. Maggie appeared in the doorway. "Walter! Merry Christmas." She came forward and gave him a hug and a kiss, causing Bill to grumble from the corner. "I'm so glad you could join us." The doorbell chimed again and Bill excused himself to answer it. "Thank you for inviting me," Skinner said. "Something smells wonderful already." Maggie beamed up at him. "With luck, it will taste just as good." Bill appeared in the doorway with another tall, striking man. All eyes turned to the pair and Maggie beamed again. "Phil, Merry Christmas!" Hug, kiss, smile. She turned to everyone. "This is Phil Dewalt, an old friend of your father and myself. His daughters both got snowed in at Denver and he was going to spend Christmas alone. So, I insisted that he join us." Maggie quickly made introductions and Scully hummed to herself as Skinner and Phil eyed each other warily as they shook hands. Phil Dewalt, former CIA bigwig and AD Skinner of the FBI. They both smiled toothily at her mother. Hmm, wasn't this going to be an interesting Christmas. Maggie herded everyone into the dining room and began dishing out the food. Scully sat at one end with Will banging his spoon on his highchair. Next to her, Mulder teased Megan about dropping the toast. The doorbell rang again. "Good grief," Bill muttered as he got up. "Who didn't she invite?" Scully took two piece of buttered toast, it was Christmas, and passed it on to Tara who was trying to wrest the jam jar out of Matty's hands. Will threw his spoon on the floor. "Merry Christmas!" someone boomed behind her, and Scully jumped and turned. Frohike, Santa Hat, tinsel and armloads of gifts, stood grinning in the doorway. Behind him stood Byers in a red sweater (no suit!?!?) and Langly with reindeer antlers tied around his head. Towering over them all was Bill's extremely red face. Scully burst into laughter. "Merry Christmas," she choked out, and gestured them in. "Make yourself at home. We just started." "Cool," Langly said. "Something smells righteous in here." Maggie popped her head around the corner. "Boys, Merry Christmas! How many eggs would you like?" "How many you got?" Langly shot back, sitting next to Matty in Bill's place. He leaned over and high fived Mulder across the table before looking up and down the table. "I could eat a horse." Mulder handed Will his spoon. Will shrieked with delight and pitched it down the table, smack into the carafe of orange juice. "Three pointer!" Mulder crowed and everyone laughed, even Bill. Scully grinned at Mulder and felt his hand take hers under the table, his thumb caressing her hand. They drank in each other as breakfast commenced around them. Touch. Stroke. Love. "Merry Christmas, Scully," Mulder said, softly. She leaned forward and he met her halfway, their lips brushing against each other like snowflakes floating through the sky. Touch. Breathe. Love. "Merry Christmas, Mulder." The End. Author's notes: Okay, I have no idea what the muse was up to with this. I know it went in twenty different directions and all I can tell you is that I was not in control. Maggie Scully appeared and refused to take a backseat this time. She really is a strong willed woman! Charlie showed up but had nothing to say. This was supposed to be a little companion piece to Nssn, not longer than and more complex than, the original. I don't know what else to tell ya! Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed it nevertheless. I will try to have a talk with my muse, but she rarely listens to anything I have to say. No beta, all mistakes are mine, with apologies. Big Thank You to Aly for my website and the wonderful collage she did for Nssn and this story!!! Happy Holidays to you and yours! Menagerie
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