Moving to a new city, Fox Mulder soon realizes this apartment building is like nowhere he has lived before and he loves it. Especially because of the kind, caring, and beautiful redheaded woman who lives just below him...
(This story… I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I got the idea and it ran away from me, doing what it wanted, surprising even me at times. Can't tell you how much I love when that happens. This and a couple of others are my favorites in the bunch. Something about this one… I just love it so much. Hope you do too.)
Fox Mulder moved into apartment 2A in Williamsburg, a neighborhood in Brooklyn, from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in mid-October. He had nodded to the neighbors he saw, introducing himself to a few, before he settled in and then began his job in Manhattan.
He worked long hours, taking the train early in the morning and coming home late at night. He did not know his neighbors well, but he did know that his building was different from others he had visited since moving to the city.
A few friends from work had invited him over, and he noticed it right away. People in those apartments seemed cold and unfriendly. In his three story apartment, there were welcome mats in front of nearly every door, children's toys, strollers, and even bicycles left out in the hallways.
It was loud with music at times, laughter ringing through the floors, but he never minded. In fact, it made him feel more at ease and not so alone. If he got up for a glass of water and heard the man upstairs softly playing his cello, sometimes he would open the door and stand in his doorway, listening. The melancholy notes tugged at his heart as he closed his eyes and let it wash over him.
Saturday mornings, days he spent either sleeping late or out for a run, the kids in the building did not sleep in, but played tag or soccer, laughing loudly. He smiled as he listened to them, remembering games with his friends.
Even if he had not become acquaintances with all of his neighbors, he liked them and the comfortable feeling he had living there.
The day after Thanksgiving everything changed however when he heard two quick raps on his door.
Opening it, he found a woman with blue eyes and long red hair. She smiled, her eyes shining and her hands clasped in front of her.
"Hi," she said. "We haven't actually met. I'm Dana Scully. I live right below you."
"Oh," he replied, reaching out his hand to shake hers. "Have I been too noisy?"
"What? Oh… no. Not at all." She smiled as she shook his hand. "Even if you were, that's apartment living for you."
"Right," he said, letting go of her hand and staring at her.
She was incredibly beautiful. Probably around his age, but seemed younger, her face devoid of makeup. She was wearing denim overalls, loose ones that were different than he had ever seen, over a long sleeved black and teal striped ribbed shirt. Ugg boots covered her feet and she had a scent surrounding her he could not quite place. A spice… cinnamon? Cloves?
Not wanting to appear creepy, he pushed the thoughts aside and stopped breathing deeply in hopes of pinpointing it.
"So, like I said, I live downstairs. Sorry… I didn't catch your name?"
"Oh, Mulder. Fox Mulder. Sorry." He smiled and she smiled back.
"Well, um… I make holiday cookies for everyone in the building and seeing as you are new, I wanted to check that you don't have allergies to anything I use." She took a folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to him.
"You… you make cookies for everyone?" he asked, looking down at a printed copy of a recipe.
"Mmhmm."
"There's twelve apartments here."
"That's why I get started early," she said with a smile. "And people celebrate different holidays. The Abrams and Hoffmanns celebrate Hanukkah and the Kings celebrate Kwanzaa… so I have to be mindful of the days."
"That's incredibly kind of you," he said quietly, looking up at her.
"I enjoy baking. And there's just something about the holidays, you know?" She shrugged and smiled, her hands in her pockets.
"Yeah," he agreed, though he did not put much stock in the holidays, not really caring one way or the other.
"So do you have any allergies? Or will that recipe be okay?" she asked as he glanced and read it again.
"No, I don't have any allergies. But if I had, what would you have done?" He meant it to sound like he was teasing, but she looked at him, her expression serious.
"Oh, I would have made something else for you."
"Seriously?" he laughed and she frowned slightly. "I just meant, you don't know me. There would be no reason for you to go to any trouble."
"It's no trouble," she said with a relieved smile as she pointed up and to the right. "Mr. Weber has an allergy to eggs and Mrs. Sellis has an allergy to dairy." She pointed to the door downstairs and diagonally from his and then shrugged. "I make them a different recipe and if you had any allergies, I would have made you what I make for them."
"Which is?"
"Oh, basically the same recipe, with some alterations to it."
"Why not just do that one recipe then? Save yourself some time?"
She scoffed and took the paper back from him, placing it into her pocket.
"Because…" she whispered, looking around and up before leaning in close to him. He leaned in and waited. "The other recipe isn't as good and if I'm eating cookies, I want all the fat and sugar I can get." He laughed as she pulled back and shrugged with a smile. "It's the truth."
"Understood," he said, still laughing softly.
"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you. Welcome to the building. Hope you like it here." She nodded with a smile and he nodded back.
"I do, thank you."
"You're welcome. Goodnight, Mr. Mulder."
"Fox, please. Or just Mulder is fine."
"Fox… okay. I can get onboard with that. I have a friend named Trix, yes like the cereal, so Fox isn't the oddest name I've heard." He laughed as she smiled and started to walk away, but then turned back around.
"Oh… I didn't ask which holiday you celebrate."
"Christmas."
"Okay, great. Any cookie cutter preference?"
"Umm…" He shook his head, the question taking him aback.
"I personally like the Christmas trees or the angels. They can hold a lot of frosting and decorations."
"Trees and angels then," he said, smiling at her with a nod and she beamed.
"My kind of person. Goodnight." She turned around again and headed down the stairs, glancing up with a smile before she disappeared out of sight.
He stood in the doorway, as the man upstairs began to cheerfully play Happy Together on his cello, and grinning like a fool, he took it as a sign.
He did not see her again for a few days.
Work was busy, even longer hours than normal, and he was exhausted as he came trudging through the door every night. He fell asleep nearly as soon as he had showered and changed, sleeping deeply until his alarm went off the next morning.
As he made his way down the stairs one morning, once more out into the dark winter world, he glanced at her door as he had done since he met her. She had it decorated within an inch of its life: rainbow lights framing it, plugged into the outlet in the wall, and stickers of holidays celebrated were stuck to the door.
A small snowman family stood in the corner, a music book open between them, their cheeks pink and mouths in an O shape, as if they were caroling.
Her doormat read Happy Holidays and had many symbols of different holidays. There was a box affixed to her door and every day there was candy of some sort: candy canes and peppermints in different shapes, golden coins, chocolate kisses, even homemade ones in little silver bags and tied with festive ribbons.
The box was up high enough that adults could grab them, but children would need to ask permission and he found that foresight to be brilliant. No one grabbed more than allotted and he respected that even more.
He had not partaken, but on this dark morning, he thought a little pick-me-up might be just what he needed. Stepping quietly, he was nearly there when the door opened and her face appeared, then all of her, as she stood in a red fleece robe with white snowflakes, her long hair up in a messy bun.
"Oh, hello," she whispered with a smile and he froze in place.
"Hi."
"Would you like a croissant?"
"Wh… what?"
"I made them for Ezra Hoffman. He helps deliver newspapers before school. And it's so cold out now, I like to help where I can. His mother had a baby a couple of months ago and well… we all have to do what we can to pitch in, right?" She smiled again as he heard a door closing softly behind him.
He turned around and saw a boy he had seen, but did not know his name. He walked toward them with a big grin as he put on his scarf and hat.
"Hello, Miss Dana," he whispered and then looked at Fox.
"Ezra, this is Fox Mulder, he lives right above me."
"Oh, right. Nice to meet you." They shook hands and Fox was struck by his maturity, not looking more than eleven.
"Let me get your croissants. Hold on."
She stepped into her apartment and was back quickly with a large plastic baggie, inside of which two croissants were in two separate baggies. Two napkins were also inside and she handed him a bottle of water.
"Thank you, Miss Dana," he said happily, putting them into his backpack. "I'll save one for Mama."
"No, those are for you, hon. I have some to bring to her later. Go on or you'll be late."
"Yes, Miss, thank you. Goodbye, Sir. It was nice to meet you." He waved as he quietly walked out the door.
"I don't think a kid has ever called me 'Sir' before," Fox said and she laughed softly.
"I suppose I should be happy I'm 'Miss' and not 'ma'am' then, huh?" she said and he nodded. "So would you like a croissant to take with you?"
"Not if you don't have extras."
"Of course I do. Hold on." She smiled as she walked back into her apartment, coming back with it and a napkin in a baggie, just as Ezra's had been given. She also had a bottle of orange juice which she handed to him with another smile.
"To wake you up," she said and he looked at her. At the messy haired woman in the Mrs. Claus type robe, giving out food and drinks with care and without question.
Who was she?
"Thank you," he said and she nodded.
"Have a good day at work," she said, smiling as she checked the candy box and nodded at the fullness of it. "See you later."
She closed the door and he stood rooted to the spot for a second. Putting the bottle of orange juice into his coat pocket, he turned around, heading into the cold morning.
He savored the sweet taste of the croissant as he traveled on the rumbly train, the middle of it still warm.
Two days later, way past midnight on a Friday night, he stumbled through the main doors, rather tipsy from the holiday party he had attended. He leaned against the staircase railing, noticing the white lights wrapped around it, looking up and then immediately regretting it, feeling incredibly dizzy.
Sitting down heavily on the second step, he put his head in his hands and let out a deep breath, the urge to vomit very near the surface.
"Late night?"
He raised his head quickly and then groaned, closing his eyes and swallowing hard.
"Hey, come on."
Small hands pulled him to his feet and led him blindly and carefully into a room that smelled of cinnamon and spices. His coat was removed and then he was helped to sit down, groaning again as he did, his head spinning.
"Here. Drink this."
A cool glass was placed into his hand and he sighed deeply. He tried to open his eyes, but found he was unable to do so. Hands covered his as the glass began to slip from his grasp.
"Lay down. I think you need sleep more than the water."
His head lay upon something soft and he felt something laid upon him. He concentrated on the pleasing scent of the room, fighting down his nausea, and was asleep within minutes.
Opening his eyes, he then closed them again from the early light in the room. A weight was heavy on his chest and as he opened his eyes again, he was surprised to find a gray tabby cat with large green eyes, purring contentedly, staring at him.
"Hello," he said, his throat incredibly dry. "Who are you?" He blinked his eyes and frowned, looking around the room confusedly.
There was a Christmas tree, heavily decorated, in one corner, lights twinkling merrily. Many Christmas cards hung on a ribbon framing an electric fireplace, the light glowing faintly. There were other decorations, but his focus fell onto the clear tumbler cup of water on the table in front of him, a bendy straw sticking out.
Picking it up, he drank until his throat no longer burned. Setting the cup down, he looked back at the purring cat still lying on his chest. A red silver sparkled collar was around its neck, but there was not a name tag attached to it.
"So, you're a quiet cat, huh?" he asked, scratching behind its ear, its head tilting to the side.
Then it stood up, stretched and laid back down close to his face, rubbing against his chin. He laughed softly, closing his eyes as he stroked the cat's soft fur.
"Jinkies! What are you doing?" He heard and he opened his eyes to see Dana standing on the other side of the coffee table, staring at the cat. "Oh… you're awake. I hope he wasn't bothering you."
He shifted his attention to the cat curled into him, purring loudly and kneading gently on his shoulder and neck.
"Considering your kindness for taking me in last night, it's not a bother at all," he answered, scratching under the cat's chin.
"You feeling better?"
"I think I'll know that once I sit up."
"Hmm. Yeah, I'm sure you will," she said with a soft chuckle. "Jinkies, come on. You want a treat?" The cat moved quickly, using his chest as a springboard. He huffed and then laughed, sitting up painstakingly slow as he heard her opening a bag of treats.
"Ohhh," he moaned quietly, the room spinning and his head feeling heavy.
"You want some coffee?"
"No, thank you. I should get home. Shower and… become a human again." He moved the blanket off and stood to his feet, swaying and moaning again. He stretched and nearly toppled over, catching himself on the couch.
"How much did you drink last night?"
He looked over at her and saw her smiling at him behind her giant snowman mug. Her hair was in a messy bun again, her robe the same, but she also wore big black framed glasses and he thought no one had ever looked more adorable and sexy all at the same time.
Blinking his eyes at those thoughts, he looked away, determined to get out of her apartment before he said or did something stupid.
"I'm not much of a drinker so it doesn't take much. Guess I wasn't exactly paying attention. Where are my shoes?" He had picked up his coat and his suit jacket, not having a clear memory of removing them, and definitely not remembering taking off his shoes.
"By the door. You sure you don't want any coffee? Or something to eat?"
At the mention of food, he felt his stomach recoil. Biting back the bile he felt rising, he picked up his shoes and made his way to the door.
"Thank you. I have to go."
He opened the door and hurried unsteadily up the stairs, fumbled with his keys, dropped the items in his arms onto the floor, and barely made it to the bathroom before he vomited.
Twice more, a shower, some ibuprofen, a long nap and then some toast and tea, he vowed he would never drink again. Never.
A soft knock sounded at the door and he groaned, pushing himself off the couch to answer it, but found no one there when he opened it. However, a tray sat on his welcome mat with a plastic container of soup, a sleeve of crackers, and two bottles of coconut water. Smiling, he bent to pick it up, carrying it inside and closing the door.
A note was under the crackers, written on paper covered in gingerbread men that read simply: Feel better. From, Jinkies
He laughed and then groaned. Opening the coconut water, he drank half before recapping it. Putting the soup in the refrigerator, he took the crackers and water to the couch, and sat back down, eating and drinking slowly.
Sunday morning, he felt more like himself and after his run, he stopped at a florist near the apartment. Purchasing a small wreath of holly, pine cones, and greens, he smiled as he walked back.
Hoping she would not answer, wanting to leave it as a surprise, he laid the wreath on her doormat, along with the card onto which he had written: Dana, thank you for taking care of me. Your kindness was much appreciated. Tell Jinkies thank you too.
He knocked and sprinted up the stairs two at a time, nearly to his door before he heard hers open. He stood breathing softly, listening to her exclaim over the wreath, telling Jinkies they had been given a gift, and she would need to find some ribbon to hang it on the door.
Her door shut and he let out a deep breath, stepping into his apartment to shower.
In the morning, as he once again glanced at her door, he paused as he stepped closer, seeing an addition to the wreath. A small smiling fox figurine sat nestled in the greens and he grinned. He then noticed that his name was written on a little rectangular tag on a string.
Tugging it, he pulled out a fancy plastic baggie of candied nuts from the candy box and he shook his head. He knew she had made them, they were not store bought. With a nod, he stepped back from the door, saluting the happy fox in the wreath. As he pushed open the doors to walk outside, he waved goodbye to Ezra as he emerged from his apartment on his way to pick up his morning croissants from Dana.
Almost not feeling the chill of the wind, he smiled as he walked with his hands in his pockets, a happiness he had not felt in a long time settling into his heart.
There were a couple more parties that week, but he stuck to club soda or one glass of wine, which he nursed most of the evening. He did not exactly like the people he worked with and some of their spouses were awful, but he knew he needed to stick around for at least a few hours, even if he desperately wanted to leave, the weekend in sight.
When he finally was able to make his escape, it was 10:30. Catching the train, he was walking into the building by 11:30. The lights on the stairs welcomed him and he smiled as he always did when he came home these days.
He could hear a party on the top floor and he smiled again as he went up the stairs and to his apartment. Walking in, he stepped to his balcony door and opened it, despite the cold weather, feeling too wired to sleep just yet.
Stepping out and taking a deep breath of cold air, he looked up and to his right, seeing Mr. Weber was sitting on his own balcony with his cello.
He was an older quiet man who kept to himself, the music he played seeming to convey his mood and feelings. Sometimes it was lighthearted, sometimes it was somber, but it was always beautiful. Fox had not heard him play any Christmas music and he wondered if perhaps he did not care for the holiday, waiting for it to pass into the next year.
But then, he watched as Mr. Weber picked up his bow and began to play. Three notes in and Fox recognized it as O Holy Night. Stepping back, he closed his eyes as he listened, crossing his arms and leaning his head against the door jamb.
It gave him goosebumps, the way Mr. Weber played with such haunting beauty. The bow traveled smoothly across the strings or trilled a bit, rising and falling.
Then he heard something else and his eyes flew open.
Below him, Dana was obviously out on her porch. Though he could not see her, he could hear her, and she was singing quietly.
"Fall on your knees. Oh hear the angel voices. Oh night… divine. Oh night… when Christ was born. Oh night… divine . Oh night…. divine."
If he had thought the cello alone was beautiful, the combination of the two was like a wonderful dream from which he never wanted to wake. It stole his breath away with its simple beauty.
Glancing up at Mr. Weber, he could see his eyes were closed and tears were shining on his cheeks. He too then felt choked up and he did not know exactly why. Dana continued to sing, her voice cracking a bit and he wondered if she was also crying.
Was it the music, the words, or the season itself? He did not know, but he closed his eyes again and let the feeling wash over him.
When the music stopped, he drew in a deep breath, keeping his eyes closed as he heard Mr. Weber sniffling.
"Thank you, Mr. Weber," Dana said softly, and he heard tears in her voice.
"You're welcome, Miss Scully," he responded just as softly. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Fox heard him leaving, his door shutting and then Dana's doing the same. When he opened his eyes, he wiped the tears from his face and exhaled a breath. Closing his own door, he stood in his lonely, rather empty living room, and sighed.
Lying in his bed a short time later, he began to think of something he had not in a long time. Aside from corporate gift giving, which could easily be done with a bottle of expensive alcohol, he had not bought Christmas gifts for anyone in years.
Not having a family, and an only child of parents who had passed within a year of each other, ten years ago, Christmas was not something he really celebrated anymore. It was a day generally spent watching television or catching up on work, not surrounded by people or doling out gifts.
Tonight though, as he stood listening to Mr. Weber playing the cello and Dana singing, not to mention the comfortable feeling he had living in the building, he wanted to do something for all of them.
Tomorrow morning he would make a list and begin his plan.
Saturday morning, after a run and a shower, he sat at his desk with a cup of coffee, notebook and pen, making a list of his neighbors, starting with those on the top floor.
Directly above him were the Kings, a family of four with two young daughters, both of whom seemed to have an affinity for ballet, as he had seen them being hurried out of the building in ballet clothes once or twice.
Mr. Weber lived next door to them, and across the walkway, were three college students whose names he had not yet gotten correct. He knew they were all young men, but were generally out at the same time he was, so he saw them very little.
The Brents were next to them and from what he had seen, they were a nice couple in their thirties.
The second floor, aside from himself, was Jason Mills, a man in his twenties that he had only seen a few times, always in a different sports team shirt or jersey and jeans.
The Collinses, who were diagonally across from himself, had a little boy of about four named Dylan, who talked about trains a lot. He had a ride-on toy train which he played with in the hallway, allowed to ride it back and forth from his door to that of Aurora Sykes's, who lived next to him, rapping a few times and then riding away quickly with a happy giggle.
Aurora was a soft-spoken young woman Fox had met only twice, but had liked a lot. Her manner was kind, especially as she dealt daily with a little boy who seemed to have a small crush on her. Fox had heard her, once or twice, playing musical soundtracks and singing along with a beautiful voice.
On the first floor was Dana with the Abrams next to her, a middle aged couple with no children.
Mrs. Sellis lived across from them and she was one of the people he liked most, aside from Dana and the Hoffman's. In her early eighties, she was kind and walked with a slight limp, but was always out and about in the neighborhood, pulling her wheelie cart full of groceries or other items slowly behind her.
Last week, he had noticed the wheel was sticking, and had offered to see if he could fix it for her. She had smiled and shaken her head, tugging it a bit harder than usual, saying it would be fine as she went into her apartment.
The Hoffmans were beside her, and aside from Ezra and the baby, they had three-year-old Samuel. He and Dylan played together sometimes, when Mrs. Collins visited Mrs. Hoffman to help her with the baby.
Ezra, had quickly become someone Fox looked forward to seeing every day. They walked together in the mornings, eating the pastries Dana offered them, talking about comic books and old movies Fox had suggested, which Ezra then found online. He was an old soul and Fox greatly enjoyed his company.
His list of people complete, he set his pen down and leaned back. Running a hand across his mouth and exhaling through his nose, he picked up his pen and began to write down gift ideas based off the information he knew about them.
"Oh!" he exclaimed with a laugh, suddenly remembering that one of his company perks, of which he had not yet taken advantage, was access to show tickets, museum passes, and sports games.
With a grin, he made a note to ask what was available that he could buy when he was at work on Monday.
He turned on his laptop and began to search for a new wheelie cart for Mrs. Sellis. He wanted to find one similar to hers, but also with a bit of an upgrade. Ordering one he thought she would like, he smiled.
He then visited another site, ordering an expensive bottle of hard alcohol for each of the three college students, set to arrive at Dana's apartment on Wednesday evening, knowing she would be home before him to sign for them.
For Mr. Weber's gift, he called an old friend, one who had the ability to find things that others could not. He told him about the beauty of Mr. Weber's talent with the cello and asked him if it was possible to find antique sheet music. His friend told him he would see what he could find and call him back soon.
That accomplished, he stood up and stretched. Grabbing his keys, he headed downstairs to discuss his plans with Dana, most likely over a cup of coffee and something delicious she had baked. He smiled as, for the first time in quite a while, he felt that excited anticipation of Christmas.
Wednesday, with eight days to go until Christmas, he left work with all the tickets he had procured in his inside jacket pocket. It was earlier than he usually left, though it was still nearing 9:00, when he walked through the building door.
Stepping towards Dana's apartment, he stopped, wondering if it was too late to call on her. He stood, debating with himself before deciding to wait until tomorrow, when her door opened and she smiled at him.
"Were you going to knock or hope I just happened to be listening for the delivery man and saw you out here?" she asked in a teasing tone.
"I was worried it might be too late. I figured I would try and stop by tomorrow instead," he said, smiling as she opened her door wider and gestured for him to come inside.
"It's not even nine yet, you're good." He walked inside and took a deep breath, the apartment smelling delicious as always.
Jinkies came running out, purring and winding around his legs. Looking up at him, he stood on his back feet, pressing into Fox's side, rubbing his head back and forth.
"Hey, Jinx. How are you?" he asked, bending to pick him up, his purrs louder as he now rubbed against Fox's chin.
"He really likes you," Dana said, smiling as she watched them. "Usually takes him a little while to warm up to people, but he took to you right away."
"Well, a warm body is a warm body to a cat," he said, laughing through his nose as Jinkies pressed even harder, kneading his claws into Fox's chest.
"Nah, he likes you. Animals are good judges of character. If an animal likes you, you're good people," she said and laughed as Jinkies pushed back and rubbed more forcefully.
"Okay, Jinx, okay," Fox laughed, setting him down and brushing off his hands. Looking at Dana, he smiled and she smiled back. "Smells good in here… whatcha baking?"
"Cinnamon spice cakes for some coworkers."
"Cakes for coworkers and cookies for neighbors…" he said and she nodded. "Not to mention pastries in the morning. I think you may be one of the kindest people I've ever known." He smiled again and she shook her head, her cheeks pink.
"I just enjoy baking and doing what I can to be helpful," she said with a shrug and he nodded, loving the way she got flustered when paid a compliment. It was very endearing.
"I understand. I don't want to keep you from it, so I'll just get my-"
"Oh, stay please," she said, her eyes wide and pleading. "They have to bake a bit yet and I'd… I'd like the company. Would you like a drink?"
"Sure," he said, taking off his coat and laying it on the arm of the couch.
"That was easy," she laughed, walking into the kitchen and he followed her with a smile.
"But how about we have a coffee? I'm still avoiding alcohol if I can," he said and she laughed with a nod.
"Probably a good idea, seeing as you are a bit of a lightweight," she teased and he hummed.
"I am indeed and I would also like to avoid experiencing the burn of it the next day when my head is in the toilet."
She laughed again and nodded as she took down a mug and placed it on the coffee stand, taking out a pod of the flavor she knew he liked and placing it inside the coffee maker.
Standing there as they waited for it to brew, he looked around at her kitchen decorations as he usually did, enjoying seeing the items she collected. Something suddenly occurred to him when he saw her hand mixer on the counter, everything else soaking in a large bowl in the sink, and he frowned slightly.
"You don't have a stand mixer," he said and she shook her head.
"They're so expensive and while I do bake a lot, it's only really once a year that I bake nearly every day. I don't see spending that kind of money when my mixer works fine for my needs." She smiled and handed him his mug, placing hers onto it and making her cup of coffee
As he held his mug of gingerbread flavored coffee, he knew he would be buying her a mixer for Christmas, regardless of the price. She had kept him fed, took care of him when he was both drunk and hungover, and had been extremely kind every time he saw her, to him and everyone.
She was an amazing person, one he found himself falling for a little more each moment he spent with her, and she deserved the best mixer he could find.
Leaving her apartment over an hour later, he had a gift bag full of slim boxes containing the tickets for each recipient, the envelopes they had been in were not "Christmasy enough" in Dana's opinion. She had brought out a large box of Christmas wrapping items and gave him any and everything he needed, helping him to tie festive bows after helping him wrap the boxes.
She came upstairs with him, carrying one of the bottles of alcohol wrapped better than any professional wrapping he'd ever paid for in a department store. She also carried a still warm cinnamon spice cake, because of course she had made extras, and would not hear of him refusing to take one home with him.
Smiling as she said goodnight, he watched her walk down the stairs. She waved with a smile and he waited until he heard her door close before shutting his own, heading to his desk to turn on his computer and begin searching for her gift.
Very early on Tuesday morning before he left for work, he put all the gifts for the neighbors into a cardboard box. Dropping them off at each apartment, floor by floor, he placed them against the railings to avoid them being stepped on when the door was opened and people left for the day.
His heart beat rapidly as he did it, not wanting to be seen by anyone as he hurried to give them out and be on his way. The Kings were given tickets to see The Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The Brents, Abrams, and Aurora tickets to Broadway shows he thought they would enjoy. Two hockey tickets were given to Jason and the Hoffmans and Collinses were given a year's pass to the children's museum.
Ezra Hoffman, his fellow early morning companion, was given a fifty dollar gift card to Comics and More to spend on the comics he dearly loved.
The college students, whom he learned were named Reggie, Steve, and Anthony, were given the alcohol. Mrs. Sellis, her cart and a fifty dollar credit card to spend where she wanted.
Mr. Weber was given framed sheet music to O Holy Night, authenticated to have been written by the original composer, Adolphe Adam. It was a gift Fox was most proud to give, not for the cost, which had been quite expensive, but because he knew Mr. Weber would truly appreciate it.
Dana's gift was the only one he did not leave at the door.
She was away, celebrating Christmas early with her family. Her parents were leaving for a two week cruise on Christmas Eve morning and she would be back that afternoon with her twelve year old niece, Amy, who would be staying with her through the new year.
She had delivered the Christmas cookies on Friday evening before she would be leaving the next afternoon. Laughter and happiness had been heard throughout the complex as she visited each apartment.
When she had come to his apartment, he had invited her in as he accepted the cookies, the frosting and decorations on them done as perfectly as he had imagined they would be.
Over a glass of wine, which she had teased him about, telling him to take it slow, he had nodded solemnly, sipping from his glass exaggeratingly slowly and making her laugh.
"Can I ask you a favor?" she had asked, biting her lower lip gently.
"Of course."
"Normally when I leave for an extended period of time, I ask Mrs. Sellis to feed and look in on Jinkies. But seeing how he likes you… would you be interested in keeping him here with you? I'll be back Wednesday afternoon, so it will be five days."
"I'd love to," he had said, smiling at her, and she had smiled back with a relieved sigh.
Saturday morning, he had helped her carry up the items needed for Jinkies to stay with him. He had also purchased some treats, a couple of new toys, and a bed which he had shown her after she had set Jinkies down, allowing him time to look around at his temporary home.
She had touched the bed, smiling as she looked back up at him, and let out a sigh.
"It's so thoughtful of you, Fox," she had said. "But… I can't tell you how many beds I've bought for him, wonderfully soft and cozy beds, and instead of curling up in them, he sleeps on the tag I pulled off of it and then accidentally dropped on the floor. Cats are strange creatures."
"Okay," he said with a laugh, setting the bed down, thinking if he could get him to sleep in it, he would feel a huge sense of accomplishment.
Saying goodbye to Jinkies, kissing him many times, she had left, smiling at Fox and thanking him as she squeezed his forearm. Jinkies had stared at the door, meowing as he looked at Fox, until he had picked up the bag of treats and shaken it, Jinkies rubbing at his ankles.
He had given him the treats and filled the metal water bowl, leaving the food bowl empty until the morning. Fresh sand had been added to the cat box in the bathroom and then he had come into the living room to play with him.
Dana had been right, he never touched the cat bed, instead sleeping any and everywhere he wanted. Beside him on the couch, in different spots on his bed, or curled around his head on his pillow, his purrs loud and comforting.
He liked having Jinkies there, meeting him at the door when he came home, stretching and already purring as he flopped onto his side, meowing softly as he rolled around. Fox dropped everything he was carrying to greet him, smiling as he spoke to him, telling him about his day.
He would miss him greatly when he went back home tomorrow.
Walking down the stairs, the last of his gifts dropped off, he broke the box down quietly and left it behind Dana's singing snowmen family to pick up later. Smiling, he looked around at the colorful boxes, tied with the ribbons Dana had insisted upon leaning against the railings. With a nod, he walked out the door.
Intent on picking up Dana's gift on his way home, he whistled as he walked toward the train.
Ezra was kicking his soccer ball around by the stairs when Fox came in that night, carrying Dana's wrapped gifts. Running to him with a huge grin, he thanked him for his gift, and then called his parents to come out. They did, exclaiming over their gift and thanking him profusely. He shook his head with a smile, setting his gifts for Dana on the stairs, hugging Mrs. Hoffman and shaking Mr. Hoffman's hand.
Everyone else then came out to thank him. Mrs. Sellis held his face and shook her head, thanking him quietly with tears in her eyes. Aurora smiled shyly, hugging him gently, her eyes flicking over to Jason, though he did not notice. Fox smiled, hoping the second show ticket he'd given her would possibly be used by Jason, having seen the two of them watching each other when they thought no one was looking.
Mr. Weber did not join the group, but met Fox at his door when he had left everyone downstairs, smiling and telling them they were welcome once more.
Standing there, unable to speak, he cleared his throat a lot before sticking out his hand. Fox set Dana's gifts down, took his hand in both of his, shaking it gently.
"Thank you," he whispered, shaking his head and letting out a breath. "That… you… my daughter… thank you."
"You're welcome, Mr. Weber," he whispered back, not needing him to explain any further, patting him on the shoulder. Mr. Weber suddenly hugged him tightly, crying softly and sniffling.
"Thank you," he choked out and Fox nodded, his own grief stinging at his eyes.
When he let go, Mr. Weber wiped his eyes with a handkerchief he took from his pocket, blowing his nose softly, before putting it back into his pocket. He nodded at him, patted and rubbed his upper arm, and made his way to the doorway to walk back upstairs.
With a deep sigh, Fox walked through his door, setting the mixer and cookbook down on the floor. He shrugged out of his coat as Jinkies ran into the room, the bell on his collar jingling.
"Hey there, Jinkers," he said, bending to scratch his head. "How was your day? As tiring as mine? I doubt it was as I'm sure you've been sleeping for the majority of the day. See any interesting birds or animals out the window today?" He smiled as Jinkies purred louder and rubbed his head into his palm.
In bed a couple of hours later, Jinkies lying on his chest, he sighed as he pet him, thinking that tomorrow he would be gone and his apartment would be lonely.
Maybe he should get a cat.
Or maybe he should use missing Jinkies as an excuse to see Dana more often. He had missed her immensely over the past few days. Missed her kindness, her smile, the blue of her eyes, and her laughter.
"You miss her too, Jinks?" He rubbed his head and Jinkies meowed softly. "Yeah, I know. She's pretty amazing. I miss her too, but she'll be back tomorrow."
Jinkies jumped down, stretched, and curled up beside him. Fox turned onto his side, closing his eyes and scratching Jinkies gently until they both fell asleep.
He had just put her Christmas card into the envelope when he heard someone call hello to her and her answering hello back. Letting out a breath, he hurried to the door to crack it open, listening for when she and her cousin had gone inside, wanting to run her gift downstairs and leave it in front of her door.
When he heard them go inside, their laughter muffled as the door closed, he taped the card to the box, picking it and the cookbook up. Closing his door so Jinkies did not run out, he hurried down the stairs and set both gifts in front of the door, before running back up the stairs and into his apartment.
Knowing she would most likely be coming to get Jinkies as soon as they were settled, he paced as he waited, Jinkies staring at him with his ears back in confusion.
Nothing happened for five minutes and he stopped pacing. Sitting down on the couch, he turned on the television, keeping the volume low.
Pounding on his door ten minutes later, caused him to jump and Jinkies to leap from the arm of the couch and run quickly to his room. He got up as the pounding continued, hurrying to the door.
Opening it, he saw Dana, but a Dana unlike he had ever seen before. Her eyes were full of fire and she was breathing hard.
Oh… she was angry.
"You bought me a standing mixer?" she almost seethed, her hands clenched.
"Uhhh… yes…?"
"How could you do that? Spend that amount of money on me? It's… it's… you…" She shook her head and as he took a breath to explain why he had, she lunged at him and he caught her, surprised by her actions.
And then her lips hit his, hard, pressing into his teeth, and he stumbled slightly as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
"I'm furious with you," she hissed, kissing him again. "I can't believe you." Another kiss and he turned, hitting the wall and holding her there, their kiss deepening. "I'm so angry right now."
"Well, I don't know. You're sending out some very mixed signals," he chuckled, and she kissed him again, slowly this time, her fingers scratching at his neck.
Pulling back, she stared at him, both of them breathing hard. Moving a hand to his cheek, she shook her head.
"Why did you do that?" she whispered and he smiled. Stepping back, he helped her to stand, his hands sliding down her arms to hold her hands.
"I've never met anyone like you before," he whispered, staring into her eyes. "You give and care for others without asking for anything in return. You get up early, stay up late, make delicious food, and offer your help, all without thinking of what you will get out of it. I am in awe of you so much of the time. A mixer… Dana… you deserve so much more than that mixer."
"Fox," she breathed, letting go of his hand to cup his cheek, and he bent his forehead to rest it against hers, her fingernails gently scratching his cheek. "I… thank you."
"Hmm," he hummed and she pulled back, staring at him, her eyes wide.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I basically just attacked you," she said, starting to pull away further, but he caught her and brought her back.
"Did you hear me complaining?"
"No. But I shouldn't have…" His lips on her stopped her from speaking further. It was a gentle kiss, nearly chaste, until her tongue touched his and she pressed closer to him, his hands gripping her waist.
"Merrrrow!" Jinkies called and Dana pulled from the kiss, breathing hard once again, her eyes opening slowly.
"You're… hmm you're good at that," she whispered and placed a hand on his chest as she shook her head and let out a breath. "Really good."
"I'd say the same thing about you," he chuckled, kissing her forehead gently and she hummed softly.
"Merrrrow!" Jinkies called again and she laughed as she pulled back, her eyes so blue it made his heart ache.
"Yes, yes," she said, stepping from his embrace and picking Jinkies up. "I missed you too, but I had something to take care of before I could say hello." She looked at Fox and grinned before turning her attention to Jinkies. "I missed you too, Jinkerutti."
She kissed him as she swayed from side to side, whispering to him what she had done while she was gone and asking if he'd had a good time with Fox. Looking at him again, she shook her head.
"I still can't believe you did that," she said quietly and he shrugged with a smile.
"I could always take it back if you…" Her squeak and sad expression caused him to laugh and he nodded. "Okay, I won't."
"And it's blue…" She shook her head, putting Jinkies down and stepping closer to Fox.
"You like blue," he said, thinking of the walls in her apartment painted nearly the same color as the mixer. She nodded, placing her hands on his chest. "It's called Ocean Drive."
"I know. It's the exact one I've wanted for a very long time."
"Funny how that worked out then," he said and she smiled, gripping his shirt in her hands.
"Isn't it though?" she whispered, shaking her head. "Ezra told me about his gift certificate to the comic book shop when I saw him just a few minutes ago. The tickets, Mrs. Sellis's cart, Mr. Weber's gift… I thought I was in trouble then and hiding it well, but now… Fox Mulder, I think I may be in love with you."
"What?" he asked softly, hardly daring to hope that she felt the same way he did.
"Kiss me again and I'll let you know," she whispered and he smiled, doing as she asked and capturing her lips with his own, catching her as she fell into him with a moan.
"Aunt Dana?" A voice called outside his door and she pulled back quickly, her eyes wide.
"I told her I was coming up here to yell at you and forgot she was down there. How terrible is that?" she whispered.
"Unforgivable," he said with a laugh and she hit him on the chest. He smiled as she cleared her throat and smoothed down her hair, starting to walk to the door.
"Wait! You didn't give me your answer," he said in a quiet whisper, grabbing the back of her sweater. She turned around and once again he saw fire in her eyes, but this time for a different reason.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him in for a deep kiss and he stumbled into her with a moan of his own.
"Definitely not a maybe," she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his lips and then turning around again to open the door, smiling at him over her shoulder.
He spent Christmas Eve with her and Amy, Jinkies happy to be home as he ran around, chasing a ball of foil Amy threw to him. Dana made a rum cake with her new mixer, kissing him quickly as they stood together watching it spinning, Amy unaware it happened, her focus on Jinkies as she laughed.
Christmas Day the three of them went for a walk, his gloved hand holding Dana's mittened one, squeezing every few minutes, never feeling so happy.
On New Year's Eve, the people home for the holiday gathered for a party of sorts on the first floor of the building. Food, bowls of punch, coffee dispensers with hot chocolate, and many different types of desserts were placed on tables, music playing as people laughed and danced.
Ezra and Amy sat on the stairs reading his new comic books and discussing what they liked best, Ezra looking at her in disbelief that she would share his love of the genre. Jason and Aurora stood in a corner, talking close and smiling. Fox nodded as he watched them before he looked over at Dana, her blue dress bringing out the color of her eyes as she laughed and drank something the college trio and their friends had made.
As midnight approached, Mr. Weber came out of his apartment and sat down in the middle of the top floor with his cello. Everyone fell silent as he began to play Auld Lang Syne, the beautiful sound of it bringing a tear to many people's eyes, Fox included. Dana slipped her hand into his and held tightly.
Amid claps and cheers, Mr. Weber bowing his head to all of them, someone began counting down, the old year nearly gone and the new one seconds away.
Fox turned toward Dana, staring at her as he thought of how much his life had changed in the two months since he had moved into this wonderful apartment complex. The friends he had made, relationships he had formed, but none so much as the one with Dana.
The woman who helped, worried and cared for others. Who loved him and had for weeks, she had admitted as they had sat on her porch one evening, Amy watching a movie in Dana's bedroom.
"I tried not to, worried it was too fast and too cliche to fall for your upstairs neighbor," she had said with a smile, staring down at their interlocked fingers. "But, goddamn did you make it hard to fight it."
"I'm happy I did," he chuckled softly and she smiled again. "And you, with your kind heart, how could I not do the same?"
She had kissed him, only breaking apart when Amy had cleared her throat and made disgusted sounds from the doorway.
Now, with the new year fifteen seconds away, he held her face in his hands and smiled, his thumbs gently brushing her cheeks. She smiled, holding onto his forearms.
"I love you," he whispered and she nodded as their lips met, cheers and shouts sounding around them as the new year made its arrival. She laughed and pulled back, smiling at him again.
"I love you," she said, and he nodded. "You said it last in the old year and I said it first in the new. A perfect ending and beginning."
"Could not agree more," he said. "Especially about the beginning."
She smiled as he pulled her close, everyone singing and poppers exploding around them, as they swayed slowly side to side, lost in music that only they two could hear.