From: Xenith 
Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 19:32:31 -0800 (PST)
Subject: Christmas with the Mulders (1 of 1)
Source: direct


Title: Christmas with the Mulders (1 of 1)

Author:  Xenith

Disclaimer: The X-files belong to Chris Carter
and 1013 Productions, not me. I'm only
borrowing the characters for now.  I'll put them
back when I'm done.

Rating: PG

Category: V

Keywords:  Christmas vignette

Spoilers: Thru 7th season

Archive: Sure!  Spooky's yes!

Feedback: Love it! Love it!

E-Mail address: xenitha@yahoo.com

Discussion List:  Yes!!! Yes!!!

Summary: A married Mulder and Scully have a
first Christmas with little William.


December 24, 2000
Mulder residence
8 p.m.


"Mulder, will you get that?"  The phone shrilled
and Dana Scully shouted over the baby's
crying.  The past four weeks since all three of them
had been released from the hospital had been
incredibly hectic.  Living with a suddenly healthy
newborn required all the energy his parents could
spare.

All in all, little William was a happy baby but
tonight he just wouldn't settle down.  Dana
sighed, aching with tiredness.  William liked to
sleep by day and was most active at night. 
Consequently, neither parent had gotten much
sleep in recent weeks.  

"You're just like your father, you little night
owl..." she chuckled at the baby and rocked
him in the rocker.  She held him on her lap
facing her and admired his features for the
hundredth time.  He had his daddy's face,
although it was too soon to tell if he'd gotten
the nose.  Bright green eyes and, if she did say
so herself, an intelligent expression.  And he
had bright copper red hair.  "But there's no
question who your mama is, is there William? 
Huh?" she crooned, momentarily grateful that
there really was no question who this baby
belonged to.

William's DNA had been matched to both his
parents in the hospital.  Although born
prematurely, and not expected to live the
consortium's treatments  had given him the
accellerated development he needed to
survive. Scully grimaced.  Treatments courtesy
of his 'grandfather'.

Mulder poked his head in the door.  "That was
Maggie.  She wants us there at six p.m.
tomorrow and says to bring a salad."

Dana nodded.  "Okay, a salad it is." She smiled
and both her men.  "This is William's first
Christmas," she said dreamily.  "With our own
Christmas morning."

Mulder came over and gently picked William off
his mother's shoulder.  "Yep.  That means that
Santa will be stopping by our house tonight.  I
don't know about you, but I've been good this
year."  Mulder leered a bit and Scully flushed.  

"Oh, you've been very very good this year
Mulder.  And I'll have a very special New
Year's gift for you," Scully leered right back. 
The weeks of 'pelvic rest' prescribed by the
doctor after William's birth were almost over. 
Mulder hadn't pushed anything, both of them
were exhausted caring for the baby.  But Scully
had to admit that she missed sex with her man. 
A lot.  

Mulder had started talking, what? Oh.  

"...said that Bill and his family will be there for
Christmas dinner this year.  I hope he doesn't
try to take a punch at me or anything."  Mulder
began walking with the baby, while Scully
remained curled in the rocker.  What a good
father he'd turned out to be.  When it was his
night to feed the baby, he was up and out of
bed at the first cry.  She felt guilty on the nights
when her reactions were slower.

"Bill won't try anything.  He's still cowed after
almost getting you killed at our wedding
reception. He has to admit that you have your
uses."

Mulder gently put William on his stomach in the
bassinet and turned to his wife with a grin. 
"Oh, I suppose I do have my uses.  Don't you
think?"  He gently began stroking his wife's
cheek, then placed a tender kiss on her mouth.

"Oh yeah...I'd say you're pretty handy around
the house.  Although I won't let you near
plumbing after what you did to the toilet."  She
stood and kissed him back, with interest.

"Mrmph...Scully, that was an accident and you
know it."  He stopped at her raised eyebrow. 
"Don't worry," he said hastily. "I'll call the
repairman before I try anything again."  He
grinned.  "So, little mother, d'you want your
present now or Christmas morning?"

She smiled back.  "Now, although I feel guilty
not waiting till Christmas morning.  I feel as
though I've been given all the presents I want
this year.  I don't think I could ask for anything
more to complete it.  I'm just grateful we're
spending the night here at home, not on
stakeout or in a haunted house somewhere."

Mulder shuddered.  "Perish the thought.  Here. 
I hope you like it."  He gave her tiny box.

She grinned and pulled a square package from
under the tree.  "Here, this is for you."

"You first,"  Mulder pointed to the box she held. 
Dana pulled the paper off and opened it up.  A
golden ring with three stones was nestled in the
center of a velvet box.  A topaz was
flanked by an amethyst and a tourmaline.

"They called it a 'mother's ring' at the jewelry
store.  See, there's my birthstone, tourmaline
for October, and an amethyst for February..."

Dana slipped it on her finger and admired it. 
"And a topaz for William.  Oh Mulder, it's
beautiful.  Thank you,"  The kisses they
exchanged were long and left both of them
breathless.

Scully readjusted her shirt and bra.  "Now you," and
handed the package to Mulder.  He quickly
disposed of the paper and laughed.  He held a
stack of books:  The Ghosthunter's Guide,
Haunted Places in the United States and a
subscription card for "Fate" Magazine.

"What, Scully?  You getting tired of the stack of
back issues of the Lone Gunman in the
bathroom?"

"Well, I thought I'd add some variety to your
magazine stash, especially since you let your
Playpen subscription lapse, " Scully said drily,
still admiring her ring.

"By the way, a package arrived today
addressed to William.  I took the paper off, and
it's a wrapped box.  From your Mom?  It doesn't
look like my Mom's handwriting.  Mulder? 
What's wrong?"

Mulder had put the books down.  "Where is the
box? My mother already sent me a check for
William.  Is this it?"  He held up a large box,
about two feet square, wrapped in red and
green paper.

"Yes, that's it.  Oh Mulder, he wouldn't..."  She
exchanged an anxious look with Mulder, then
he began to carefully unwrap it.  Finally he
pulled the last shred of paper from it and
opened the lid.

Inside was a brown plush teddy bear wearing a
red ribbon.  

Mulder pulled the bear from the box and
handed it to Scully, then searched the packing
material.  "Nothing else here...wait, there's a
note.  'Son, this is a gift for my first grandson.  I
assure you that it is nothing more than a bear,
filled with the wishes of a grandfather for long
life, health and prosperity for a grandson.'"

Mulder sniffed at the note and wrinkled his
nose.  "Smells of cigarettes.  Well?"

Scully finished her examination of the bear.  "It
looks ordinary.  It has a tag, but I'd like to x-ray
it before I give it to William."

Mulder took the bear back.  "If we give it to
William."  Scully slowly nodded.

"Maybe it would be best if William never saw
this bear.  We don't know what may be in it, or
on it."  Mulder stuffed the bear back into its box
and moved it away and into the kitchen.

He returned to find Scully looking dully at the
Christmas tree.  "Mulder, won't they ever let us
alone?"

He sat next to her and hugged her close.  "I
don't know, Scully.  I just don't know.  But I do
know this." He gently moved a tendril of hair
from her eyes.  "If it wasn't for the consortium, I
would never have met you.  If it weren't for their
interest in debunking my work, you wouldn't
have become my partner and now my wife. 
Things have a way of working out for the best. 
Sometimes all I can do is trust in that, and be
grateful for the things I have."

"Amen to that."  


(AN UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

The older man put the headset down and
picked up his cigarette.

"It's a pity that they feel the need to reject
something as insignificant as a child's toy."

The man in the leather jacket grinned.  "Yeah,
well, that paranoia has saved their lives before. 
Can't blame 'em.  Even though the transmitter
wouldn't have shown up on x-ray."

The smoker shook his head.  "Well, I have
other ways to watch over my grandson."

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