Two Steps Forward By Starbuck_Jayne Starbuck_Jayne@mulderandscully.co.uk Rating: PG/PG-13 Spoilers: None really except tiny one for How the Ghosts Stole Christmas oh and also Tooms Keywords: Pre-Requiem, MSR Disclaimer: Not mine wish they were. Just borrowing belong to the wonderful Mr. CC, 1013 and Fox etc. And the elements are from The X-Files Quill and Scroll society Fanfic Challenge. Archive: Anywhere at all just please keep my name and e-mail attached. Summary: 'Twas two nights before Christmas... Feedback: On my knees and begging for it. Author's Notes: written for the X-Files Quill and Scroll Society Fanfic Challenge 2000. (Elements are listed at the end) please let me know what you think! Two Steps Forward Starbuck_Jayne The blackness that engulfed the basement office was nearing pitch as Scully stumbled over the threshold; keys left swinging from their Apollo 11 chain in the lock. The dark was of little importance to the agent: a stack of books stretching a good few inches above her eye level would have obscured her vision, regardless of how brightly lit the room was. Besides, after nearly eight years she knew the way around as if it were the back of her own hand. Balancing the books on the palm of one hand whilst fumbling around for the edge of the desk was not really a good idea...but at the time she had little choice. "Hey, Scully...what the...?" Books scattered over her shoulder and crumpled to the floor. "Jesus, Mulder," she cursed, without so much as a glance towards him. "Theoretical physics?" Mulder noted with a chuckle, "bedtime reading?" He handed her the book, which she snatched quickly from him, her expression somewhere between a frown and a badly hidden smile. "So you do know it's Christmas Eve tomorrow, right Scully?" "What exactly are you implying, Mulder?" she asked, reading down the spine of a book on the top of her pile before slotting it neatly into place on a shelf. "Well, normally you're panicking about gift- wrapping or something around this time..." "Mulder, this better not be your way of telling me that you've planned another of your Christmas ghost hunts..." Mulder grinned. "Come on, Scully, I need some way to get out of this year's Christmas Ball!" His partner turned her attention towards him and smiled. "Mulder, you know full well I despise these balls every bit as much as you do...but Skinner promised immediate dismissal if we didn't turn up to at least one during the course of our FBI careers." Slumping sulkily into his chair, Mulder picked up his basketball and began spinning it on the tip of his finger. Scully was unimpressed. "Seen as you *had* to come in today you could at least make yourself useful." "Doing what?" "I don't know," she paused, "something festive." "Oh, right, yeah and I just happen to have a tree lying around here, wanna help decorate it?" "Mulder, just because you have issues with this holiday does not mean you are required to ruin it for everyone else!" She knew immediately that she had been too hard on him, after all what purpose could Christmas possibly serve without any family to share it with? "I'm sorry, Mulder," she put the books down on the edge of his desk, "but you know what? I could really use some help putting up my Christmas lights?" Grinning, he offered her his hand and together they left for her apartment. "So where are these going then, Scully?" Mulder was regarding the string of tiny lights he held in his hands as if the whole concept was completely new, not to mention crazy. "Ok, round the window-near the tree," Scully instructed. "If you could fix them along the top I'll do the ones down here." She set off pinning the lights in place until the realisation hit her that Mulder was not actually moving. "Mulder...?" "When we were kids, me and Sam were in charge of putting up the lights. I mean, we weren't exactly Christmassy people but when you've got kids, well, you know how it is." Scully paused then laid a hand across his, sliding her thumb into the space between his thumb and forefinger and squeezing gently. "Come on, Mulder. Let's go get some tea." "No way, Scully! We're putting up these lights...but you know what? You can do the top ones..." Scully uttered a brief exclamation before the pair set to work. XXXXXXX "So..." was all she could say as they sank back onto the sofa. Scully sighed and rolled her head slightly to the left in order to see her partner. "We did a good job," she smiled, gazing thoughtfully at her Christmas tree which was now framed by a string of twinkling silver lights; not to mention adorned with a star she had previously been unable to position on her own. "Thanks, Mulder," she held out her hand for his and he accepted it with a grateful squeeze. "You're welcome," he said, pulling her closer so that her head rested against his shoulder. "Hey, Scully," "Yes?" "You think we managed to miss the ball?" "No-seen as it doesn't start until 8pm tomorrow." "Dammit!" "Nice try, Mulder." XXXXXXXX "Come on, come on!" Scully tapped her foot impatiently as she awaited the elevator. The light hovered about the second floor and she sucked in her breath as she checked her watch. It was almost 8pm already and there was no way they'd get to the Hoover Building in time. A final glance towards the screen above the elevator confirmed her suspicions that it was stuck on level two. She'd have to take the stairs. Lifting a corner of her long black dress she began the ascension, almost tripping on the heel of her new shoes in the process. Upon finally reaching apartment 42 she was out of breath, tired and slightly concerned that the time was now past 8 and Mulder didn't appear to be around. Knocking again, she ran a hand through her hair and cursed her partner. One ball. One year out of, say, 30? Skinner was going to go mad. "Scully?" Mulder's head appeared around the door. "Mulder! Finally! Are you ready?" "Umm, almost. Why don't you come in?" Scully sighed and followed him into the apartment. "Mulder!" She exclaimed upon realising that he was not ready at all! No smart tux; not even a pair of nice trousers! In fact, all her partner was wearing was a pair of black satin boxer shorts, complete with glow-in- the-dark aliens. "I do *not* believe you!" She shouted after him as he disappeared into the bedroom. "Mulder, Skinner is going to go crazy!" She sat down on his sofa with a sigh. "Hey, Scully, guess what?" Mulder's face reappeared around the bedroom door. "What?" she lifted her head from her hands, "Oh Mulder you didn't even..." Mulder produced a stained tuxedo. "Guess I can't go after all," he sighed. Scully ducked as he threw the suit onto the sofa. "There's always next year, right?" She said defeatedly. "Yeah, and now you're here and all dressed up..." he paused, "care to dance?" Scully smiled and took his outstretched hand. They began to dance, twirling and grinning at the very idea of what they were doing. "Don't you think music would be useful, Mulder?" Scully laughed. Mulder let go of her hands as he moved to switch on the hi- fi. As his finger touched the button there was a sudden flash and the light bulb blew out. "Oh great!" Mulder's voice rose above the first strains of "Hermando's Hideaway" which filtered through the darkness. "I'll go change the fuse." "No!" Scully's outburst startled even herself, "I mean, leave it Mulder...we've still got the music," she coughed nervously, "and the moonlight." She raised the blind and a few beams of light glittered into the room. "Scully, are you coming on to me?" "Maybe if I could see where you are!" Mulder stretched his hand out for Scully's and drew her close. With his arm wrapped gently around her waist the pair tangoed. Softly and carefully Scully reached up and ran a hand through her partner's hair. He lowered his lips to hers and slowly they kissed. "Sorry..." Scully whispered as they broke away. "What for?" "For getting lost in the moment...and for forgiving you for the trouble you've gotten us into on Monday!" "You want your gift now?" XXXXXXX It was the ticking of the clock that woke Scully from her daze. "Mulder...it, it's beautiful!" The blue stone gleamed in the flickering light from the fire. "It was my mother's," Mulder informed her, resting his glass on the coffee table and passing a hand across his lips. He gave a slight cough. "Oh, Mulder..I couldn't...I mean, it's too much!" Mulder's face fell. "Scully, I want you to have it!" He said, reaching for the necklace and fastening it around her neck. He trailed his fingers across the glassy sapphire and she watched as his hand moved to her face, brushing aside a strand of hair and caressing her cheek. Their eyes met, illuminated by the light from the fire...and again they kissed. "You wanna stay for a bit, Scully? Watch a movie? I haven't got any popcorn but there's some strawberries somewhere...oh and wine..." "That's pretty classy living, Mulder!" Scully grinned, "we gonna watch Steel Magnolias?" Mulder rolled his eyes and rose from the sofa. As soon as his back was turned, Scully's smile faded. He shouldn't have to spend Christmas alone like this. True, Mulder didn't exactly celebrate the holiday anyway, but she hoped he wouldn't mind if she asked him to spend it with her all the same. "Hey, Scully," her partner called from the doorway, plucking her from her thoughts, "if there's fresh strawberries in this bowl...it could be love." ~The End~ Ok people please please tell me what you thought! I do need feedback to live...no really! :-) Elements: String of xmas lights Slow, sexy tango to tune of "Hermando's Hideaway" with Mulder wearing nothing but black satin boxers with glow in the dark aliens all over them Mulder and/or Scully in formal dress A sapphire necklace A bowl of fresh strawberries A huge stack of books about to fall over
Text file Source (historic): geocities.com/starbuck_jayne
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