SUMMARY: Christmas with Maggie, Dana, William, and a Secret Santa.

AUTHORS NOTES: This is my second piece of fiction. Please let me know if you like it! THANK YOU: To all of the wonderful people who wrote me about my first story! I hope you like this one too!

It is Christmas Eve at Maggie Scully's home. She is taking the last batch of cookies out of the oven when she hears the front door open.

"Mom! We're here," yells Dana as she shakes the snow from her hair.

"Oh! There you two are! Merry Christmas Dana," exclaims Maggie as she kisses her daughter on the cheek and takes her grandson from her arms in the same move. "And Merry Christmas to my sweet little grandson," she says as she gives him a big hug.

"Mom, I gotta run out to the car to get the rest of the stuff. I'll be right back."

"No problem, sweetie. I'll take William on back to the kitchen for a fresh Christmas cookie."

As Dana closes the door on her way back out into the snow, Maggie takes William to the kitchen and places him in his high chair.

"How's my little boy doing on his first Christmas, huh? My, you're growing so fast! And looking more and more like your daddy every day! The spitting image! Don't tell Mommy, but I have a little sur "

"Don't tell Mommy what? Are you teaching my son to keep secrets from me already, Mom?" laughs Dana as she steps into the kitchen.

"Oh, no! Just a little Christmas secret, that's all. You'll find out soon enough, anyway," smiled Maggie.

"Well, as long as its not Bill coming in to surprise me. I don't think I could handle him right now, especially after how he acted at Thanksgiving."

"Honey, you know he means well. He's just over-protective of you, as all big brothers are. When Fox is home and they get to know each other better, I'm sure things will go more smoothly."

Dana, looking down and playing with the buttons on her sweater, "I know, Mom. It just hurts, to hear him say such cruel things about Mulder. He has no idea what kind of life Mulder and I have. He has no right to say such things."

"I know honey, I know. Oh, your little brother called. He said to give you and William a big hug and to say he's sorry he couldn't come in for the holidays."

"I wish Charlie could come home more often. Def Leppard is not even on tour right now, are they? What is he doing?"

"Well, they're recording a new record, or cd, or whatever they're called nowadays, so he's busy in the studio with them. A guitar tech's work is never done, he says." "Yeah, well, more of your homemade chocolate chip cookies for me then!" Dana says as she takes another bite. "Are we going to Midnight Mass, Mom?"

As Maggie pours a big glass of milk for Dana, she hesitates for a moment then says, "Well, the weather is supposed to get worse so I thought it might be safer if we skipped it this year. Is that ok?"

"Well, yeah, sure. I just know how much you hate to miss it."

"I think God will understand if we miss just one. Besides, I have a big surprise for William! Santa will be here!"

"Of course he is , Mom. Its Christmas Eve. I brought all of his gifts with me. I already put them under the tree," says Dana just before she takes a big drink of the icy cold milk.

"No, honey, I mean Santa is going to be here, in person! He should be here any minute now, as a matter of fact," explains Maggie as she checks her watch.

"Mom! I told you, not to go out of your way! I know its William's first Christmas, and I want it to be special for him too, but you didn't have to do that! I hope its not costing you much!"

"Oh, its not costing me a penny. He's a very good friend, someone I admire and care about a lot, actually."

"Well, thanks Mom. Its so hard this year, you know, to even get in the holiday spirit. I miss Mulder. We both miss Mulder. But you have helped me so much. I just don't know what I'd do without you."

"I know honey. I miss Fox too. Now, lets get in the living room and get ready for Santa!"

Just as Dana is placing William in his exer-saucer, the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it! I bet its Santa!" Maggie excitedly exclaims. "Santa! Its you! Come in! Merry Christmas!"

"Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!" bellows Santa. He's taller than most Santas (much taller than the World's Smallest Santa that William had his pictures taken with at the mall last week) and he seems a bit thinner. He's wearing the standard Santa outfit with a big pair of black-rimmed glasses with a white wig and a long white beard. He's carrying a red velvet bag that looks to contain presents.

Santa gives Maggie a big hug and walks on into the living room.

"Why, this must be Dana and William! Have you two been good this year?" he says with a wink.

"There's something about him," thinks Dana.

Santa puts the bag of gifts under the tree, and reaches down and picks William up out of his exer-saucer. "My goodness! What a big boy you are! You're mom must be feeding you good! None of that take-out Chinese or pizza for you, I bet!"

Dana looks up, and gasps, "Mulder! Is that you?"

Santa removes his glasses and lowers his beard. His beautiful hazel eyes and pouty mouth light up in a smile from ear to ear, "Its me, Scully."

"Oh Mulder! Its you! Its really you!" Dana stands up and wraps her arms around him. She never wants to let him go again. "I can't believe you're here!"

"Merry Christmas, sweetie. I'm going to leave you three alone to catch up," says Maggie as she watches through tear-filled eyes the loving scene unfold.

Dana runs over to her and whispers in her ear as she gives her a big hug, "Oh Mom! I don't know how you did it, but thank you!"

As Maggie goes upstairs, Dana turns around and sees Mulder holding his son and giving him a big kiss on the head.

"I've missed you buddy," Mulder tells him.

"He's missed you too. We both have. But, how did you do this? How did Mom find you? Are you safe? Is everything ok?" cries Dana.

"I'm safe, for now. I have to leave in the morning. But there was no way I was going to miss my son's first Christmas. After watching you and your Mom at the mall last week, I knew that there was nothing that was going to stop me from being here. You know that picture that I slipped into William's bag? Well, I slipped a note into one of your Mom's bags as well. I explained to her what I wanted to do, and well, here we are. Did you like the picture, by the way? I know my picture with Santa is not as cute as William's, but hey..."

Mulder smiles one of those sideways smiles of his, and then bends down. Dana leans up and meets him half way, and they give each other the only thing they both wanted for Christmas this year, each other.