Chapter 3

Its me again! I know you're thinking "wow, its about time" but I've been so swamped. I cursed off Heart of Darkness and decided to finish this chapter. I was going to post one huge chapter, but its more fun in pieces and this way you won't have to wait months for it. Little doses to help with the withdrawal, but this is only the rising action. Just wait until it gets good! Thanks always to my beta, Jen, and to all of you devoted readers and leavers of feedback. It makes me feel like a million bucks.

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Mulder and Scully arrived at Mrs. Scully's house together, early on Christmas Eve Day. They'd driven together listening to Christmas carols and chatting idly, but not really mentioning their plan.

Mulder got out of the car, stretched his legs, and opened the back door. He pulled out all of the bags they'd brought and attempted to carry them.

"You can't handle all of the luggage on your own, let me help," Scully offered.

Mulder smiled back at her as he slung a duffel bag over his shoulder. "Don't worry about it, love. You can get the huge bags of presents you brought."

Scully smiled, realizing that the game was now afoot. She grabbed her bags of gifts. There were a lot of them. She had presents for her brothers and their wives, her mother, and all of her nieces and nephews. There was also a little something for Mulder.

"Already in character?" She asked, as she shut the car door.

"Why do you say that? I can't call you 'love' under any other circumstances?" Mulder jested. "Besides...this has to go off perfectly. I really want to piss off Bill. That's what Christmas means to me."

"Your holiday spirit amazes me," Scully dead panned.

"Actually, its more than just pissing off someone who I dislike so intently. This should be pretty fun. I mean, after all, its the holidays...you...me..." he trailed off dryly. "and a Christmas tree..." He nudged her with his shoulder, since all of his hands were full. "Think about it, Scully."

Scully giggled and headed off for her mom's front door.

Mrs. Scully's house was the perfect picture of Christmas cheer. She had lights that were hung, compliments of Bill, and a wreath on the door. There were candy cane ornaments in the ground and a candle in each window.

Bill and his family had arrived the day before to give Maggie extra time with her newest granddaughter, and to help her out with all of the Christmas work. Charlie and his wouldn't be coming until after lunch that day.

"Ah...home for the holidays," Mulder said, taking in the festiveness.

"You ready?" Scully asked, pausing on the stoop.

"Oh, bring it on, baby!" Mulder shot back.

They answered on the first knock, Mrs. Scully practically yanking her daughter inside. She quickly got Dana's bags out of her hands, hugging and kissing her daughter.

"Dana, I missed you. I don't think I've seen or talked to you since Thanksgiving..." She trailed off and turned her attention to Mulder, who had stood off to the side and hadn't actually entered the house.

"And Fox! I didn't know you were coming. It's such a pleasant surprise to see you. Come in!"

Mrs. Scully gave him the same treatment, stripping him of his luggage and hugging him as if he were her own son.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Scully," Mulder replied, embracing Scully's mom.

When she was done, Margaret excused herself. "I have to run upstairs and get Bill and Tara...and the kids will be so happy to see you, Dana. They're up there trying to take care of the baby and dress and manage Matthew."

With that Maggie disappeared upstairs and the partners were left alone for a few minutes.

"Shall we start the honeymoon now?" Mulder asked seriously.

Scully laughed, probably out of sheer nervousness and silliness. This was definitely the most bizarre thing she'd ever done. Here was her partner, in her home with her family, pretending to be her significant other, only no one even knew it yet. She felt bad, considering that her mother would probably be overjoyed at such a revelation.

"I guess we just play it by ear and act a little 'friendlier' to one another than usual," Scully managed. "Although I have no idea how we're going to start this, or how we'll explain it later."

"But isn't love all about ignoring consequences and just going for what the heart wants?" Mulder asked. "And the heart wants revenge on big brother Bill."

As he said this, the two heard footsteps on the stairs, and realized that their private conversation would have to end.

"Aunt Dane!" Came a tiny voice belonging to three-year-old Mattie. His mother followed with the baby, knowing that her sister-in-law would want to see her. Bill was behind her, bringing up the rear.

Matt hugged his aunt and looked at the unfamiliar face in the room.

"Who's dat, Aunt Dane?" He asked her.

Scully picked her little nephew up so he could see Mulder. "This is Aunt Dana's very special friend..." She trailed off wondering whether it should be Fox or Mulder.

Mulder seemed to see where she was going with it and jumped in to help. "I think Fox is easier...Can you remember the name Fox?" He asked the child.

As Mulder spoke Scully saw that he'd been noticed by her brother's radar. Bill stood on the bottom step, staring at the scene unfolding in the living room. His son was being introduced to the one man he hated more than anything.

"Fox," Matt repeated, liking the name.

Tara entered the room with the baby, and kissed her sister-in-law on the cheek.

"How are you, Dana?" She asked, handing over the formers' niece. Scully put down Mattie and took the baby.

"I'm good. Happy holidays, Tar!"

Bill remained in the corner of the room until coaxed in by his mother and wife.

"Aren't you going to say hi to your sister?" Tara asked him, knowing full well what was wrong with him.

Bill reluctantly came in and hugged Scully, but the hug was cold and emotionless. It put into words what he left unsaid. The question of why she had brought Mulder into their home, where he clearly wasn't welcome. There also lurked residual anger and hurt on both sides from what had transpired at Thanksgiving. Bill realized that she was mad that night at dinner, but Scully had obviously not forgiven him yet.

Mrs. Scully addressed her eldest son. "Bill, why don't you help Mulder with all of the bags that he and Dana brought?"

Bill shot his mother a Look but did as she suggested. Mulder and Scully slid out of his way, Mulder figuring that he would follow Bill up to whatever room they should be in.

Mrs. Scully giggled, suddenly.

"What?" Scully asked, confused. The others in the room looked just as uninformed as Scully.

Mrs. Scully smiled in an amused, motherly way, and confessed to her daughter, "Its just that...you two are standing directly under the mistletoe."

Scully's cheeks flushed a little, and she looked down, embarrassed at the thought. Mulder, however, gave her an interested look. It was the perfect opportunity for them to make their 'affections' known to the room.

"You can't be serious, mom," Bill grumbled, pausing at the stairs, afraid of what would happen if he left.

"Its just tradition, Bill," Mrs. Scully stated, "and I was merely pointing it out to them. You don't have to kiss if you don't want to..."

Mulder caught his partner's eye, and gave her a look that explained what he was about to do.

"And disappoint all of you? Who am I to argue with tradition?" He asked the room rhetorically.

Mulder bent down and kissed Scully on the lips. The kiss was soft and warm, and Scully felt herself melt under its power. It was more than a peck, but not enough to leave her satisfied. She thought she would die when he pulled away from her. He'd given her a little taste that made her want more all of a sudden.

Mrs. Scully smiled with delight at the scene, mentally going over all the possibilities between the two. Tara looked on with appreciation for what she saw as a respectful love, while Bill made a noise of disgust and turned to head upstairs. He stopped at the sound of his mother's voice.

"Well, that leads into my next question. I was going to ask if you two would mind sharing a room..."

Bill's eyes almost popped out of their sockets with rage at the thought of it!

"What are you talking about, Mom?! It was one stupid kiss, its not like they're married. Why the hell should they share a room?" He exploded.

"Bill, I have you and Tara in my room, I'm in what was the kids room, I'm putting Charlie in the den...I only have the spare room left," Mrs. Scully explained.

"Could you and Dana share a room? That would make more sense," Bill argued.

Mrs. Scully pursed her lips and said patiently, "Fine. I'll let Dana and Fox decide. I would just figure that they're used to being together and would want to be so on Christmas, but its their call."

Scully looked at Mulder, knowing what he would say. It fit well with their plan, and would definitely antagonize Bill to no end. She decided to speak up before Mulder felt it necessary to do so.

"I think that Mulder I will be just fine sharing a room," Scully announced to her family. She laced her arm through Mulder's and pulled herself a little closer to him to get her point across.

Bill turned and stormed up the stairs in disgust, and they followed suit, arm in arm.

Hope you enjoyed this...there's a lot of fun MSR coming up in the next chapter, and a majorly fun scene in the chapter after, so stick for when the show gets really good! Reviews always help the muse to work faster, and they break the depressing monotony of my everyday life...Only five more days to go!