Title: "Carolers" Author: Riva E-mail: DrScully@imneverwrong.com Rating: G Category: V or S, some Angst and MSR Summery: Scully spends a lonely Christmas Eve alone, until a VERY diverse little bunch of carolers shows up. The Carol of the Disclaimer: I don't own any of the X-Files.... Fa la la la la la la la la My fanfic lies around in piles... Fa la la la la la la la la But I don't make any money.... Fa la-la la-la-la la-la-la So don't you try and sue me, honey... Fa la-la la-la la-la la la Also, I don't own the song "Merry Christmas with Love" that I have tacked on the end of this. I just thought it fit, and I hope who ever owns it doesn't mind my liberal borrowing policies. Also, Jackie St. George is used briefly. She is the marvelous creation of one Sheryl Martin, and no infringement is intended, and highest of respect is given to her wonderful character. Archive: Anywhere, everywhere, or nowhere...just make sure my name is with it. Feedback: YES!! PLEASE!! [I'm not desperate....Really!!] Dedication: This vinigette is dedicated to my friend Megan, aka Alien Girl, who is a great writer her self, and AWESOME artist, and the most persistent writing slave driver known to man! P.S. to Megan: I promise I'll finish "Visions" someday!! Warning: There is Scully angst in this piece, and those that can't bear that type of thing may want to avoid this. [but it has a happy ending I promise!!] Notes: Only one. This story takes place Christmas of '98, but in my universe, so whatever they have planned to happen this Christmas, it won't fit. But that's OK! --------------------------------------------------- Now that all of THAT'S out 'o the way......... RIVASTAR Productions Presents: ------------------------------------------------------ -----------------T H E X - F I L E S ---------------- "Carolers" ------------------------------------------------------ Dana Scully's apartment 7:38 pm, Christmas Eve Dana Katherine Scully stood in the middle of her living room, looking at her surroundings like a lost little girl. It was Christmas Eve, and her home was warm and the air was fragrant with the smell of the cookies she had just finished baking. To the casual observer, it was as homey and inviting a place as one could hope to be on a snowy Christmas in Washington DC. But to Scully, it was as empty and cold as the autopsy bay she had been in just hours before. She just stood there, blue eyes blank as they cast about the room. Her red hair was mussed, and her pale face had a smudge of flour on it from the cookies she had finished making. A flour-coverd apron was tied around her waist, covering up a bright red V-neck sweater and blue jeans. A forgotten mixing spoon was still clutched in her hands. Something was wrong. Something was missing. --------------------------------------------- Scully had come home from the office that day, relived to be there. Mulder had asked that she come to preform an autopsy, and even though it was Christmas Eve, she couldn't turn him down. Besides, she wasn't busy. Her mom had gone to the West Coast to visit Bill and Charlie's families, and Scully had been left alone for the holidays. Margaret Scully had asked her daughter to come with her, but Dana had turned her down. She still couldn't face Bill. The last time Bill had been out to DC was the over 4th of July weekend, and the two siblings had gotten into a bitter argument over wether or not Mulder would be invited on the Scully family's annual picnic. Margaret had tentatively suggested it, and Bill had refuted the idea adamantly, adding just one too many personal insults to Mulder while he was at it. It was just a bit more than Scully could take. Her carefully regulated feelings had snapped, and her older brother had gotten a royal dose of the dreaded Dana temper. Ever since, a silence had fallen between sister and brother, a silence both were too proud to break. So she had stayed home, and then went into the office on Christmas Eve to do an autopsy. She hadn't minded at first. It was a favor for Mulder. Any favor for Mulder could be borne easily enough. But then she had accidently overheard a conversation in the bathroom while she cleaned up. Two female agents were touching up on their makeup before going back to the FBI Christmas party on the next level. Their words had started out innocent enough, but soon escalated into gossip that hit the listening Scully like a fist to the gut. "Did you see Agent Scully coming out of the autopsy bay?" "Yeah, what is she doing working on Christmas Eve?" "Well, you know the Ice Queen. She doesn't have many friends, and I hear her family disowned her for joining the FBI." -Now, it was true that her father had noot approved of her decision to join the FBI, but he had not disapproved THAT much...had he?- "Yeah, that's too bad. I really pity her. She probably got roped into that autopsy by that partner of hers." "Oh, don't feel too sorry for her, Elana. Agent Scully and ol' Spooky are like two peas in a pod. You know, they're both so socially inept, they couldn't even act normally if they tried." -Laughter- "They don't call her Mrs. Spooky for nothing you know." -More laughter- Scully had emerged from the bathroom stall when the two careless women had moved safely down the hall. Though she hadn't cared before, suddenly she couldn't get out of that building fast enough. Scully had rushed home and changed quickly, thrown on some festive music and charged into baking cookies as fast as she could, trying to fill up the gaping hole of depression that was fast consuming her. ----------------------------------- Two hours later, and it still hadn't worked. Her eyes continued their empty circuit of the room, searching desperately for that fleeting essence of Christmas magic that seemed to be escaping her. What was wrong? What was missing? The atmosphere was right... -Heck, it was even a white Christmas this year-...The traditional cookies were safely baking in the oven,...The music was right...The decorations were.... The decorations. Scully's head turned back to the small tree that sat in the corner, still empty and bare, the box of ornaments sitting by it, still unopened. [That must be it,] Scully thought. She brushed the flour off the apron and untied it, draping it over the couch as she ripped into the ornament box with a will. 10 minutes later, Scully stood by the tree, again frozen by a overwhelming sense of *wrongness* about the whole situation. Christmas at the Scully household had always been a magical time, a time simply infused by happiness and contentment; the true essence of the spirit of Christmas. Christmas had always been one of Scully's favorite times, even the tragedy of what happened to Emily had not diminished her love of the Season. Usually, the very sound of a Christmas carol or a whiff of sugar cookies was enough to send Dana straight into the heart of Christmastide. But now, she felt strangely empty. She slowly pulled herself out of the freeze-mode and hung the brightly colored ball on a green branch. Reaching into the box, Scully suddenly stopped short as she drew out a delicate angel ornament. It was a tiny thing, all porcelain and lace, a fragile red-haired figurine in soft velvet green, with smattering of freckles. Dana's breath caught in her throat. The angel had been a gift to her from her sister Melissa, the Christmas before her death. Missy had said the angel looked like Dana, and that since Dana was really a angel in disguise, it was appropriate. Missy had teased her, and said that anyone who enjoyed Christmas *that* much, had to be an angel. Visions sprang to Scully's eyes unbidden. -Her sister's grumpy yet good-natured faace waking up as a tiny 6 year old Dana jumped on her still-sleeping older sister Christmas morning.- -A sea of Christmas wrapping littering tthe living room, her father's booming laugh echoing around her.- -The mischievous glint in Charlie's eyess as he chased the girls with his new toy snake- -The mischievous look on her OWN face, aas she teamed up with Missy to engaged their brothers in a snowball fight- Suddenly, the tears that had been threatening her all day overflowed and began to roll down her cheeks unchecked. Scully stood, and placed the ornament carefully on the coffee table, and moved to the window, leaning heavily on it, staring out at the falling snow, grateful for the oblivion it gave. That's what was missing. That's what had always been missing. The tears flowed faster, dripping off her cheeks and falling to the floor. Scully shivered and pulled her arms around herself, trying to shut out the darkness that threatened to overtake her. But she was lonely. So lonely. No one should have to be lonely Christmas Eve. But just as the darkness was swallowing her, a tiny light glimmered. Something. Just enough to grab her attention and pull her out of the sea of depression she was drowning in. Something. A voice? Two voices? Three? More? Scully pushed herself away from the window. The voices were louder now, the song beginning to come clear. \\Joy to the world, the Lord is come\\ Carolers, Scully thought. \\Let earth receive her king\\ They were coming toward her apartment, She thought. but they wouldn't stop. No one knew her here. \\Good King Wenclaslas looked out, on the feast of Stephen\\ The voices were loud now. [Probably for the lady next door] Scully turned back to the window. \\Hear we come a caroling..\\ Scully started in surprise. She could swear they were just outside her door. One voice was louder than the others. And strangely familiar..... \\Among the leaves so green\\ The voice was getting insistent. [That voice..] Scully's curiosity was piqued. She moved towards the door. ------------------------------------ Outside, Fox Mulder was getting frustrated. [Open up already, Scully! I know you're home] Around him, the misfit group of carolers persistently kept up the song, goaded on by Mulder's gestures to sing louder. Frohike's voice cracked, and he received a sharp punch in the ribs by a grouchy and sensitive-eared Langly. Skinner kept pace evenly with a quiet but powerful baritone that made Mulder wonder if he'd ever had voice lessons. Holly wandered in and out of the refrain with a sweet, -if a bit nervous- soprano. Jackie St. George belted it out in a confident alto, hands intertwined with her fiancee, Martin, who was also singing, but a bit less enthusiastically. All in all, Mulder had managed to pull together a group of 11, pulling strings and favors out of every resources he had in order to put together this surprise party for Scully. Byers stood beside him, his singing muffled from behind the enormous bag of party goods he held. Mulder let loose a grin and turned back to the door. \\So fair to be seen\\ That was a laugh. They looked about as ridiculous as...... well, never mind what they looked as ridiculous as. Just then the door popped open, and Mulder stood face to with a *very* shocked Scully. "Mulder- Mulder wha..?" "Merry Christmas, Scully!" He said, grinning from ear to ear, and pulling her back into the house and to the side to avoid being crushed by the enthusiastic group of carolers as they streamed out of the cold and into the inviting warmth of her apartment. Mulder looked down at Scully as they stood in the doorway and smirked at her completely astounded look. "I take it you weren't expecting guests?" "Mulder, I- How did you- Why did you-" "I felt guilty, Scully." Mulder clasped her hands earnestly, "It was wrong of me to pull you back to work on Christmas Eve and I'm sorry." "Oh, Mulder." She breathed. "Oh, Mulder. You have no idea." She looked around at the room that just moments before had been empty, and was now filled with people. Langly and Byers argued about what music to put on....Holly and Alyssa Caitren were setting out drinks.....Jacob Grant knocked over a plant and Jackie had brained her fiancee while getting the broom to clean it up.....Frohike was everywhere at once, snapping pictures with that stupid camera..... She loved it. "Scully, are those tears I see?" "I'm fine, Mulder." She said automatically. Then giggled. Mulder was shocked. His Scully? Giggling? "Just leftover tears," She looked up at him. "Thank you, Mulder." She whispered. "Thank you so much." "Aw, it was nothing." Mulder smiled down at her. "No," Scully shook her head. "You're wrong. It was everything." Mulder caught her gaze and held it. He leaned in closer to her. Her pulse quickened, eyes mesmerized by his. "Hey Mulder!" Langly yelled suddenly. "Check it out!" he pointed. "Mistletoe!" [Oh, shoot.] Scully thought. [I forgot about that.] Mulder looked up. Sure enough, there was a bunch of mistletoe hanging in the doorway. Scully looked at the floor, but she could feel Mulder's eyes fall back on her. A thousand thoughts ran through Mulder's hazel eyes. A faint blush rose to his face. Neither of them moved an inch. "Oh, just kiss her Mulder!" Alyssa's voice cut across the silence in the room. "You know you want to!" Both of them looked over at Alyssa. Scully turned back to Mulder, her face on fire. Mulder looked down at her intensely for a moment, his eyes seeming to turn a dark green. Scully's heart stopped. But the look was gone quickly, a mask of amusement hiding it. Scully let out a quiet sigh of relief, -and disappointment- as she began to turn away. But suddenly, Mulder's hands were on her shoulders, turning her back to him, as he bent and pressed his lips to hers. Scully barely heard Frohike's dismayed cry as she wrapped her arms around Mulder's neck and kissed back, as thunderous applause filled the room...... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- T H E E N D ---------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ Here's the song that inspired me to write this: --Merry Christmas, With Love-- She leaned with her head on the window Watching evergreens bend in the snow Remembering Christmas the way it had been So many seasons ago When the children would reach for their stockings And open the presents they found The lights on the tree would shine bright in their eyes Reflecting the love all around But this year there's no one to open the gifts No reason for trimming the tree And just as a tear Made it's way to the floor She heard voices outside start to sing.... Merry Christmas to all who may dwell here Merry Christmas, if even just one May the joy of the season surround you Merry Christmas With Love The carolers sang as she opened the door Faces of friends in the crowd And all of the shadows of lonely reminders Driven away by the sound know the heart that for years had been silent Was suddenly filled with the song As she clung to his hands Like a child in the night She found herself singing along Merry Christmas to all who may dwell here Merry Christmas, if even just one May the joy of the season surround you Merry Christmas With Love. ------------------------------------------------------ Well, ya reached the end!!! Congrats!! Thanks for reading this, hope you liked it!! Please write and tell me. My e-mail is: DrScully@imneverwrong.com ------------------------------------------------------ DOWN WITH RAT BOY!! DOWN WITH THE RAT BASTARD!! [agent spender. scully actually calls him this in "triangle".] DOWN WITH RATS IN GENERAL!!! ----SHIPPERS RULE!!!!!! And anyone who thinks otherwise can go host an alien!