I'm back?
Enjoy!
Weeks before Thanksgiving, Scully asks her mom to do all the things they did when she was young. There may be only the four of them, but she is determined to give her daughter the best Thanksgiving possible. Needing a break from paperwork one day at work, Scully grabs the list of ideas she keeps in her purse and settles down at Mulder's desk. Currently, out of the office, Mulder is surprised to find his partner so engrossed in whatever task she is doing. Deciding to leave her to her task, Mulder grabs a possible case file from his desk and scans over it. When Scully starts mumbling to herself, Mulder asks what she is doing.
"Nothing," She answers not wanting the distraction. After a moment, Mulder asks Scully when he notices her heavy sigh, "What are you getting so worked up about?"
Monica has the day off, so it is only the two of them today. Looking up at Mulder, Scully answers, "Thanksgiving. My mom called while you were getting lunch. Apparently, Charlie can't make it. One of the boys has a judo tournament."
"A Scully doing Judo? That sounds scary," Mulder teases. Noticing his girlfriend finds nothing funny in his comment, the man reassures her, "It'll be fine."
"I just wanted Chloe to experience a typical Scully holiday since she won't be here for Christmas," Scully explains, "It will be the last one with just the three of us."
Allowing himself the privelege, Mulder crosses to Scully who still sits in his office chair as it's the only one comfortable enough for her now and kisses her forehead. Gently, he tilts her head up to look at him.
"It'll be fine," He reassures. "Any family holiday will be a typical one for her despite a sibling."
She smiles at him and then tells him everything they are making to take to her mom's. Simply nodding, he knows he is going to be carrying most of the dishes into the house on Thanksgiving Day. True enough, Mulder carries two covered dishes while his girlfriend and daughter only carry one, and his is not sure if a can of cranberry sauce even counts for his daughter.
Sitting around after dinner, Maggie brings up the topic of going Black Friday shopping. Asking her daughter if she is up for the idea, Scully instantly agrees, adding, "Chloe needs some things for her trip anyway."
Unaware her daughter is taking a trip, Maggie asks Chloe, "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to go see Phoebe this Christmas," The teen answers nonchalantly before going back to her book. Maggie shoots her daughter a confused glance toward the girl's reaction.
"I'll tell you later," Scully mouths then looks at her daughter and asks, "Do you want to go with us?"
Chloe looks up from her book and asks Scully to repeat herself.
"Do you want to come shopping with me and Mom?" Scully asks. Shrugging, Chloe answers she will before looking at her dad and teasing, "Looks like you'll be all alone!"
Shrugging, Mulder answers, "I'll just see what The Boys are doing."
Rolling her eyes, Scully asks Maggie when they should leave adding, "I haven't been Black Friday shopping in over five years."
"I'd say leave around three? I know a few stores are opening at five, but it will only take half an hour to get there."
"Well then why don't we leave a little earlier? Remember how terrible the lines get?" Scully asks prompting Mulder to get up and call the Lone Gunmen to see what they will be doing the next day.
Mulder wakes up at two when the girls get up simply to make them all coffee and tea. He puts them in thermoses before seeing them off and going back to sleep. Waking up again six hours later, Mulder allows himself to liesurly get ready, and heads out to see The Boys. While Mulder heads to see his friends, his daughter, girlfriend, and basically mother in law are well into their shopping day.
"Mom, look this will be cute for the baby!" Chloe remarks as she drags Scully and Maggie to a onesie with foxes on it. Rolling her eyes, Scully states, "We shopped for everyone but you the last two stores, we're getting something for you. Besides you need a new coat for England."
"I can wear the one I have now."
"And look like a tourist? No, we're getting you some new things. Now, lead the way to you section," Scully demands. With a sigh, Chloe agrees when her mom arches her eyebrow and leads the way.
"What do you think of this one?" Scully asks her daughter as she holds up a coat once they look for a while. Shrugging, Chloe goes back to looking at some of the other coats. Sighing, Scully states, "You need new clothes for London."
"I know," Chloe states. Finally, she finds one that is probably cute enough to wear for a week with Phoebe. Showing it to her mother, Scully tells her to try it on. Nodding, she hands her actual coat to her grandmother before trying on the new one. Both older women give their approval before heading to the area with actual clothing. After an hour, Chloe finally finds a few pair of jeans and some sweaters and the women decide to go to the food court.
"Hey, Kid. Bored already?" Mulder teases setting his cards face down so the Gunmen are unable to peek as his daughter answers, "No. We just sat down. Mom's feet are killing her and we were all kind of hungry. How're the boys?"
"They're good. Did you want to say hi?"
"Yeah!" Chloe enthusiastically answers before launching into a conversation about video games with Langley and Byers. Ten minutes later, Chloe gets back on the phone with her dad when Scully asks to talk to Mulder. Nodding, Chloe hands her mom's phone back to her.
"Hey," Scully states when gets the phone.
"Find anything good today?" Mulder asks as he steps away from the card game while his friends tease him about being whipped. He hears his girlfriend sigh on the other end and waits for her to explain, "I had to practically drag Chloe to her section of the store to pick out clothes. She seems less than thrilled to go to London."
Shaking his head, Mulder explains, "I think it has to do more with Phoebe than London."
"Should we just let her stay here with us, then?" Scully questions aloud.
"No, the ticket is bought. We'll ask her what she thinks, but I think she should still go," Mulder answers hoping they and their daughter are making the right decision.
Two weeks later, Chloe steps off the plane and tries to reorient herself to the unfamiliar airport. As family's reunite at the gate, Chloe makes her way through the airport to customs the whole time keeping a watch out for Phoebe. Getting through without trouble, the teen hears her name once she heads toward baggage claim. Catching sight of Phoebe waving to her, Chloe quickly realizes she has no idea what to call the woman to her face. Mom is already taken and Mother is too formal. Mum is too British, but she runs out of options. Smiling, Chloe goes up to Phoebe who asks how she is and how the flight goes.
"Fine. No problems," The teen announces before they go to baggage claim as she tries to gauge how this vacation will go.
Review!