While tending to a patient on Christmas Eve/early Christmas morning, Dr. Mulder and Dr. Scully are treated to the story about how they met, prompting Dr. Mulder to share how HE met and fell in love with his wife...

December 25, 2010

"Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

From now on

Your troubles will be out of sight…"

"I met my wife on Christmas in 1954, did I ever tell you that, Dr. Mulder?" Henry Shaw asked, the music playing softly from his cell phone, looking down at his wife as she slept, the sedative she had been given after her emergency heart surgery allowing her to rest.

"No, I don't think you have," Doctor Fox Mulder replied with a smile as he sat in a chair watching him.

"Dr. Scully has heard this story, I'm fairly sure," Henry said, looking over at her as she typed on the portable computer.

"I don't think so," Doctor Dana Scully said with a smile, glancing up before returning to her work. "But even if I had, I'd love to hear it again, especially as it is now officially Christmas." She smiled again as Henry glanced at the clock and nodded, looking back down at his wife.

"She was so beautiful. I mean she is so beautiful, but that night…" He stroked her cheek with his arthritic fingers, the knuckles knobby. "I was nineteen and full of myself, believing I had it all figured out. I was at a Christmas party, standing back and staring at all the pretty girls in their dresses. A couple girls I'd known all my life were whispering in a corner and I thought I'd go and ask one of them to dance when Esther walked in right in front of me." He smiled as he shook his head, now touching her hair, chuckling under his breath.

"She was eighteen, from the next town over, and had been invited to the party by a few girls. They were all happy to see her and there I stood, staring, as though my shoes had been nailed to the floor." Dr. Mulder laughed and Henry chuckled softly.

"Her hair was a rich brown back then, long and set perfectly. Her dress, shoes, lipstick, all of it was red and it suited her to a T. No one I've seen, then or since, wears red the way she does. It's as if the color was made for her alone."

Dana smiled as she listened, glancing occasionally at him as she added her notes to Esther's chart. She could picture the scene, his descriptions of the night so clear.

"She caught my eye and smiled and ohh," he continued with a smile. "Like I said, I felt so sure of myself, so… much more than I was and with just a smile, she nearly took me out at the knees. I hadn't even spoken to her, nor even knew her name, and I wanted to give her the world."

"Funny how women can do that to us, huh?" Dr. Mulder asked and Dana turned her head to look at him, her eyebrows raised. "Oh, Dr. Scully, you can look at me as though I've shocked you, but you know I'm right."

"Do I?" she asked and he nodded, looking back at Henry.

"So what happened?" he asked, a smile twitching at his mouth as she turned her head, rolling her eyes with a smile.

"Well," Henry laughed softly. "I unstuck my shoes from the floor and walked toward her, but Robert Conner got there first."

"Damn Robert," Dr. Mulder mumbled and they all laughed.

"Yeah, he asked her to dance and I was furious that she agreed, although I had absolutely no right to be. I watched her dancing and laughing and I was determined to be the next one she danced with that night. The only one if I had my way."

"Damn straight," Dr. Mulder said and Dana shook her head with a chuckle.

"As soon as the dance ended, I was there, asking for the next. She smiled and took my hand, letting me lead her away, but she asked for a drink and I was more than happy to oblige." He stroked Esther's cheek again and sighed. "We never danced that night, but spent it talking and laughing. God, I fell in love with her so easily, so quickly. She was everything to me."

"That's so beautiful," Dana said, scrunching her chin and sighing.

"Yeah. When she started feeling sick… I was terrified and she…" He shook his head. "She told me we'd had fifty five years together. We have five children, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild so far. We've been very blessed with health, time and love. So if she was to leave this earth, she would be content, knowing how wonderful her life had been."

"Wow," Dana said, wiping at her eyes. "That's a very rational way to see life."

"Oh, she always was, but I was having none of it," Henry responded, shaking his head again. "We fought over her seeking treatment. She rarely went to the doctor, even with the children. I always took them to appointments, vaccinations, and even to the emergency room when our middle child broke his arm. She waited outside, pacing, but unable to come inside. Only time she was okay being in the hospital was to have our children."

"I never knew she had worries about doctors and hospitals," Dr. Mulder said and Dana looked at him, nodding in agreement.

"Oh… I'm going to really build your ego up here, Dr. Mulder, but it was you who changed her mind." Henry smiled at him and Dr. Mulder frowned in confusion. "When we were referred to you, she stubbornly refused to go, but after we met you, she changed her mind about doctors."

"Ahh, he laid on that charm he's relatively famous for," Dana said, crossing her arms and fighting back a grin. He gave her a look and shook his head.

"No, Dr. Scully," Henry said with a chuckle. "It was that he was kind, attentive, explained what was happening, and the best course of treatment. He was upfront and honest with her. His explanation was rational. And as you said, she was rational with her own thinking, and so she took solace in his approach. When we left your office, she stated repeatedly how much she liked you. And then, well…" He looked at Dana and his smile grew. "We met you, Dr. Scully, and she knew she was in good hands and she wouldn't be leaving this earth just yet. Not leaving me just yet." He looked back at Esther and he sighed.

"She's a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure," Dana said and Henry smiled, his eyes still on Esther.

"She is. It's what I've loved most about her."

"Reminds me of my wife," Dr. Mulder said and they both looked at him as he smiled and nodded.

"I didn't know you were married. Or maybe I hadn't noticed a ring," Henry said quietly. "I'm sure Esther knew, being the sharp woman she is."

"I'm sure she had."

"How long have you been married?"

"Seven years now," he said, smiling as he sat forward, looking down at the gold ring on his left hand. "I didn't meet her at Christmas, but…"

"How did you meet?" Henry asked and Dr. Mulder looked up at him.

"Somewhat similar to you, our paths crossed and everything changed. For me anyway, at first."

"Where did you meet her?"

"It was actually here at the hospital," he said, smiling as he saw something neither of them could. "I was standing in the hall reading a chart when she walked in front of me. I didn't know who she was, but she drew my attention immediately. So much so that I couldn't stop staring at her, mesmerized by her walk."

"The swing of her hips?" Dana teased and he laughed softly.

"No, although I would be lying if I said I didn't notice that about her," he said with a smile. "But it was more than that. It was the confidence in her walk, the way she held herself… like I said, I couldn't stop staring at her as she continued down the hall."

"Did you follow her?" Henry asked with a smile and he nodded.

"Course I did," he said, crossing his arms and grinning. "I had to know who she was, this woman who had stolen my heart without ever seeing her face."

"Oh please," Dana said, shaking her head. "You're saying you fell in love with a woman without ever seeing her face? Without knowing anything about her?"

"I did."

"What if she was horrible? Or not physically appealing?"

"I liked the back of her, I was certain I would like the front," he stated dryly and Henry laughed with a nod.

"And once you saw her?"

"Oh…" He covered his heart and shook his head. "The most beautiful woman I'd ever seen in my life, she stole my breath away. But it wasn't physical at first, as much as it was her confidence. As I followed her, she was stopped by a colleague whom I didn't care for much. He was misogynistic, rude, and I knew he had cheated on his wife more than once. I watched him staring at her as she looked over a chart he had handed her and he made me feel uncomfortable. I can imagine how uncomfortable she felt. I watched the smile on his face and I was suddenly walking toward them, hoping to… I don't know what, when she looked up and saw his expression. She stepped back and handed him the chart, telling him he needed to speak to someone else, as her valuable expertise was required elsewhere. She walked away leaving him open-mouthed and I… I was in love with her."

"Sounds like an ass of a man and a devil of a woman," Henry said and Dr. Mulder grinned.

"Oh, you have no idea," he said with a laugh.

"And you fell for her and still hadn't seen her face?" Dana asked and Dr. Mulder nodded.

"Indeed I had. The back of her was enough to win me over."

"Hmm," she hummed and smiled as she shook her head.

"My Esther," Henry said, smiling at them and then looking down at her as she slept. "After that Christmas party, I asked her to a New Years party. I kissed her as the year became new and we were married on March 5th 1955."

"Two and half months?" Dana asked and he nodded. "That's fast."

"Hmm. It is, but God, it felt slow at the time," he said, sighing as he stroked Esther's cheek again. "She wanted to be married in a poofy, beautiful dress, so that had to be made. Also, her sister had just had a baby and we needed to wait until she was feeling well enough to be in our wedding party."

"That's incredibly sweet," Dana whispered, letting out a deep breath.

"How about you, Dr. Mulder? How soon did you seek out your wife, telling her how you felt?"

"Oh… it was far longer than I would have liked, as she intimidated me."

"What?" Dana asked, laughing softly. "You were intimidated by her?"

"Oh yes…" he said, nodding vigorously. "Intimidated, in awe… whichever sounds better. She was beautiful, intelligent, caring, and empathetic. I mean, how is a man supposed to approach a woman as wonderful as that?"

"So what did you do?" Henry asked.

"Hmm…" Dr. Mulder hummed and smiled. "There was a weekend conference out of town that we both had to attend. The first night I saw her sitting at the bar alone, drinking a glass of wine, and I knew it was my moment. I let out a breath, walked over, and sat down on the stool beside her. My heart was pounding and my hands were a bit sweaty as I turned toward her. Without a word, she slid a glass of whiskey to me, smiling slowly as though she had been waiting for me to finally show up."

"Devil of a woman," Henry whispered with a smile.

"Without question," Dr. Mulder agreed, grinning happily. "Six months later, I proposed and six months after that we were married."

"You found your other half," Henry said, looking back at Esther. "Just like I found mine." He shook his head and kissed Esther's forehead. "She's the one person I want to see every day. The one I want to tell everything to, the one that makes me happy just sitting and doing nothing." He kissed her again and looked at the two of them with a smile. "Thank you, Doctors, for everything you've done for us. I will never be able to properly express my thanks."

"You're welcome," Dr. Mulder said, standing up and tugging at his lab coat, placing his hands inside his pockets. He smiled at Henry and glanced at Dana. "Perhaps we should let Henry get some rest, Dr. Scully."

"Yes, I believe that would be a good idea. That couch there pulls out to give you a slightly larger bed. The nurses can bring you blankets if you need them, but I have a feeling that chair you're in may be your bed for the night." She smiled and he nodded, taking Esther's hand and holding it gently.

"Thank you both again. Merry Christmas to each of you."

"And to you. We'll each be checking up on her after the holiday, unless there is an emergency that Dr. Bradley can't handle. But for now, she's doing wonderfully, she just needs to rest." Dana smiled and he nodded. "Goodnight, Mr. Shaw."

They walked out of the ICU room, Dr. Mulder nodding at her as he went to the left, leaving the ICU wing. She stopped at the nurses station and spoke to them about Esther, asking for some blankets and a pillow for Henry.

At her office, she hung up her lab coat and sat down at her desk. Looking over her notes, she added a bit more for Dr. Bradley when he would be in to check on Esther later that morning. Yawning, she glanced at the clock and sighed out a hum. It was already late and sleep was not yet on the horizon.

Finishing her notes, she stood up and stretched. Taking her purse from the bottom desk drawer, she put it over her head and across her chest with a smile. Reaching for her scarf, she had begun putting it around her neck as a knock sounded on her office door.

Smiling, she glanced over as the door opened and the man she had just been thinking of walked into the room. He grinned as he took her coat from the coat rack and helped her put it on, folding down the collar and arranging her scarf.

"Fell in love with the back of me, did you, Dr. Mulder?" she asked teasingly and he looked up with laughter in his eyes.

"Indeed I did, Dr. Scully," he said, reaching into her inside coat pocket to take out the small round ring holder in which she kept her rings. He unlocked it, removed the gold diamond ring and wedding band, and slid them onto her finger, kissing her as he did.

"Intimidated by me?" she whispered and he hummed.

"You knew that already, my love," he whispered, kissing her once more, closing the ring holder and putting it back into her coat pocket.

"Intimidated?" she asked again, raising her eyebrows and he scoffed, shaking his head as he buttoned up her coat.

"Have you seen you? How amazing you are?" He smiled and she licked her lips, biting the bottom one. "How incredibly sexy?"

"Stop. Or… keep going, whatever you wish," she said, looping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply, his arms around her waist.

"We need to get home. It's starting to snow and we have plans."

"Hmm. We should get going then." But she made no effort to do so, staring at him with a smile as they began to sway slowly.

"Hmm… honey, we have to go," he said, shaking his head and glancing up at the clock. "Dana…"

"Oh… Dana… it's serious now," she teased, and he laughed softly. She pushed up on tiptoes and kissed him quickly, nodding with a smile.

He stepped back and she hooked her arm through his. Turning off the lights, she locked the door and they left the hospital.

"Hey. Mom," Dana said, gently squeezing her mother's shoulder, and smiling at her as she woke up.

"Oh, honey, you're home." She sat up with a tired smile, blinking and stretching as she adjusted her blue fleece snowflake robe. "Fox, hello."

"Maggie," he said, smiling at her as he took off his coat. "How were they?"

They all looked at the sleeping little girl on the couch next to Maggie, her dark auburn curls covering her pillow. She held her favorite pink one eyed dog in her arms, breathing deeply and covered with her Cinderella toddler bed comforter.

"Well," Maggie said, smiling as she gently stroked the wayward curls. "This one wanted to wait up for Santa. She made it until about 8:30 before she passed out."

They all laughed softly as Maggie continued stroking her hair.

"Poppy went down as usual at 7:30, happy as can be. They both had a bath after dinner and watched Frosty, Daisy coming up with the plan to wait up with the hope of seeing Santa as they both twirled around and giggled. I put Poppy down and came back to Daisy making up her bed here on the couch. I couldn't discourage her, knowing she would fall asleep quickly, so I read her Christmas stories until she did." She looked up at Dana and smiled. "She's so much like you were at this age."

"Hmm," Dana hummed with a smile, laying her coat on the back of the couch, her scarf on top, and her purse on the floor.

"How's your patient?" Maggie asked, standing up and running her fingers through her own hair.

"She's doing well, thankfully," Fox said, walking over to Daisy, brushing her hair back and kissing her temple.

"She'll be feeling better soon, after she recovers and starts her physical therapy," Dana said, coming over to hug her mother. "Thanks for watching the girls, Mom. You should get to bed. You know they'll be up early."

"You're welcome, hon," Maggie said, hugging her back. "Glad your patient is okay. Goodnight." She pulled back and patted her cheek. "Goodnight, Fox."

"Goodnight, Maggie," he said, coming over to hug her and kiss her cheek. "Thank you for being here."

"Of course, love. Goodnight."

She walked upstairs, closing the door to the guest room softly as the fire crackled. Fox grinned at Dana, nodding as he left the room.

She walked over to Daisy and looked down at her, smiling at her pink cheeked girl sleeping with her mouth slightly open. Four years old and growing up so quickly. She bent down and kissed her cheek, uncovering her a little, the room warm enough without the blanket.

"So, where should we start?" Fox asked quietly. She turned around to see he had changed into his Christmas pajamas and was pushing out a large box with smaller boxes stacked on top. Smiling at her, she smiled back and stood up.

"The kitchen," she answered and he nodded, moving the smaller boxes to the side to open the large box containing the toy kitchen, as she went upstairs to change into her own Christmas pajamas.

Together, in front of the fire, their girl sleeping on the couch, they opened and put together the gifts that were to be from Santa. They ate the carrots and cookies Daisy and Poppy had set out for the reindeers and Santa, sharing the glass of milk.

Laughing quietly, she put the sticker labels onto the kitchen with the skilled hands of a surgeon, as he opened the other boxes, taking out the cradle, stroller, and high chair for Poppy. He placed the padding inside the cradle and added the new baby doll. A stuffed bunny was placed in the high chair, a plate, fork, and spoon on the tray.

An art easel with a large roll of paper on one side and a chalkboard on the other was taken out next, the cups filled with chalk and markers. A vanity with a small seat was set beside the easel, pretend makeup and styling toys laid carefully upon it and in the small drawer.

"They're going to love all of these gifts," Dana said, looking at the makeup, and smiling, knowing Daisy would be giving them all makeovers in the days to come.

"They will," he agreed with a smile. "Do you think we spoil them?"

"Pssh," she said, waving her hand dismissively and looking over at Daisy. "They're little for such a short time, truly they are. Why shouldn't we spoil them from time to time? They're good girls, full of love and happiness. They deserve to be rewarded for it."

"Good, then we believe the same way," he said, filling their stockings with bottles of bubbles, fruit snacks, hair bows, watercolor paints, and candy canes. She smiled at him as they hung the stockings back on the mantel.

"I love you," she said and he smiled.

"I love you too," he said, stealing a kiss before turning around and looking at Daisy. "Should we bring her to her bed or leave her there?"

"Hmm," she said, walking over and looking down at her. "Part of me says to let her stay here, wanting her to have that memory of sleeping on the couch and waiting for Santa, but then I don't want her to wake up scared and disoriented. I also don't want to miss seeing her face when she sees all of this for the first time." Waving a hand at the toys around the tree, she looked at him and he nodded.

"I'll take her up then," he said, and she smiled, uncovering her and picking up the pillow, blanket, and dog as he lifted Daisy.

"Mmm," she whined, her head on his shoulder, limbs heavy with sleep.

Following him up the stairs, they put her to bed without her waking. She turned onto her side facing away from them, her dog in her arms. He turned on the nightlight as Dana covered her and kissed her gently. Walking out, he closed the door quietly, looking at her and motioning toward the stairs.

"The fire needs to be put out and the room cleaned."

"Yup. Let's get it done, I'm exhausted."

Back downstairs they went, checking to be sure everything was perfect for the morning. The empty plates of cookies and carrots were placed back beside the fireplace, the empty glass beside it. All the trash and evidence of boxes were placed away from the girl's sight. Coffee was programmed to brew and the fire extinguished, before they went back up the stairs, closing the baby gate at the top.

Quietly opening Poppy's door, they looked in on her sleeping in her crib. In her green fleece footie pajamas with happy smiling reindeers, her butt up in the air as she slept on her stomach, she seemed more baby than a toddler of two. Dana smiled as they closed the door and walked down the hall to their bedroom.

Teeth brushed and standing by the bed, she stopped him, staring up at him with a smile.

"I'm so glad you finally decided to find me not so intimidating," she teased and he laughed.

"Well, I don't know if I ever truly will, but…" he said, cradling her face and stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. "I will always be happy I took that chance."

"All we would have missed… our life, those two girls…"

"A travesty, truly. I don't even want to think about it."

"Hmm…" she hummed with a smile. "Do you want to have another baby?" His eyes widened in surprise as he pulled back, his hands on her shoulders.

"I… I suppose the real question would be, do you want to have another baby? Is that something you would want to do?"

She smiled slowly, watching his face. The many emotions he was feeling as he began to understand her smile caused her to want to laugh hysterically.

"Are… what… what are you saying? Are you pregnant?" he asked, staring into her eyes. She smiled and nodded and he exhaled an incredulous laugh. "You're sure?"

"Yes. I had a blood test done yesterday evening as I was experiencing all the same signs as I had with the last two pregnancies."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his hand going to her stomach and she smiled softly, covering his hand with her own.

"I wanted to be sure first, to know it for certain."

"Oh, honey," he whispered, his forehead pressing to hers as they stood with their hands on her stomach. "Another baby…"

"Merry Christmas," she whispered and he shook his head slightly as he laughed.

Pulling back, he kissed her forehead, cheeks, nose and lips, before dropping to his knees and lifting her shirt to kiss her stomach. She ran her fingers through his hair, closing her eyes and smiling as he whispered words of love against her skin.

Rising, he kissed her again, pulling back and smiling happily.

"God, I love you so much. So very much."

"I love you too."

The hour extremely late, they lay down, his head resting on her bare stomach, fingers running softly across the slight bump. She closed her eyes, smiling as she ran her fingers across his back, into his hair, and back again.

"Iris?" he asked and she opened her eyes.

"Hmm?"

"Iris, if it's a girl? Sticking to our flower theme of names?"

"Hmm," she hummed again. "What about Holly? Seeing as we learned about her at Christmas?"

"Oh, yes… I like that," he said, kissing her stomach.

"And if it happens to be a boy?" she mumbled, sleep calling to her.

"Cosmos," he answered quickly and she laughed softly, scratching gently at his scalp.

"Let's discuss it later. Our two other flowers will be up far too soon." She yawned and he bade her stomach a quiet goodnight with one last soft kiss, readjusting her shirt as he began to move.

Lying beside her, he pulled her close and she wrapped an arm around his waist as he sighed deeply.

"You surprise me with news of another baby and you wonder if I'll ever stop being intimidated by you," he whispered and she hummed with a smile. "The answer to that question is never. I will always be in awe of you, my love. Always."

"And I will be in awe of you… always."

She took a deep breath, snuggling closer to him. The warmth of his body, his scent, and sharing the news of the life growing inside of her, drew her to a peaceful slumber.

For a few precious hours at least, until the wonder of Christmas would be rousing them all, excitement and happiness filling the air.