Christmas
The song on the radio was deceptively upbeat.
"You stood there smiling, holding on to the one who took my place," sang the young girl to a lively swinging tempo.
"So tonight, the heartache's on me..."
Dana Scully drove on through the snow her anger soothed by the music.
"And now, to get you in the Christmas spirit, here's-"
Scully switched off the radio, cutting off the announcer. It was Christmas Eve but she wasn't in the mood for Christmas spirit, except perhaps the kind which came in a glass.
Mulder was the reason for her anger. He had been reassigned and was now working with a beautiful, blonde agent. Far too happily for Scully's liking. Not that she would ever admit it to Mulder in a million years, but she was jealous.
She arrived home and as she opened the door of her apartment she was surprised to find the room ablaze with light. Fairy lights were everywhere and the tree which she hadn't had time to trim was completed and tinsel sparkled in the light.
In the centre of the room stood Mulder. He was wearing a ridiculous Santa hat with a piece of mistletoe hanging on the end of it.
He looked so comical that despite her anger, Scully couldn't help smiling. She also noticed how pleased she felt that it was her apartment he was standing in and no one else's.
"Mulder" she said. "What are you doing here?"
"Merry Christmas Scully," he said and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Mistletoe" he said by way of explanation when she looked slightly taken aback.
He sat down on her couch but Scully remained standing.
"I'm so angry with you" she said. "First you get reassigned with a bimbo and then you break in here and kiss me and-"
"Scully, I have a key." Mulder pointed out. "And I was reassigned for a reason. Because I asked to be."
"So you wanted to work with her?" asked Scully in disbelief.
"Scully, are you jealous?" Mulder began teasing her but seeing the anger still in her eyes, he thought better of it. "No, that wasn't intentional, I just couldn't work with you anymore."
"Well you could have discussed it with me first." Scully was close to tears. "Mulder I thought we were friends. Whatever I've done, you could have told me."
"It's not what you've done, it's me." Mulder replied looking into her eyes.
"What have you done?" Scully prompted him.
"Fallen in love with you," said Mulder softly. "I wanted to be reassigned so we could be together. I mean, if that's what you want as well."
Scully smiled and this time when Mulder kissed her it was more passionate and she kissed him back.
"Merry Christmas Mulder."