Thankfully the traffic on Christmas was minimal so they breezed to her mother's house in less then 20 minutes. She parked the car behind Bill's on the street and as they stepped out into the cool night, they were met by music coming from the living room. Scully collected her bag from the boot, slinging it over her shoulder as Mulder was hopping out from the passenger seat. She watched as he took a deep breath, seeming to gear himself up for the evening ahead, but before she could stop herself she reached out to take his hand, curling her fingers around his and smiling at him tenderly. A small wink escaped and she tugged on his hand, pulling him towards the house.
The door was unlocked and Scully pushed it open to be met with a wall of heat and the smell of cooking ham. Mulder hung back as she dropped the large bag inside the door and caught the attention of the small crowd that gathered by the roaring fire. The stereo was playing a compilation of Christmas hits, disguising their arrival, but not for long as Mrs. Scully noticed them and rushed over. Gathering her daughter into a tight hug, she glanced at Mulder over her shoulder and smiled.
"I'm so glad you two made it. It's really starting to snow heavily out there." She moved past Scully and pulled Mulder into an equally tight embrace as the rest of the family joined them.
"Yeah we left a bit early to ensure we'd make it!" Scully let go of her brothers hug and smiled at Tara as Mulder and Bill shook hands politely. "I couldn't miss the Christmas roll call could I?"
"Come into the kitchen and let me get you a drink Fox," Mrs. Scully offered linking her arm through his and leading him forward.
Scully started to pull out the gifts from her bag and place them under the tree. Mathew crawled over to her with obvious interest in the colorful wrapping, smiling as she hid them from him in the back of the tree, beyond his reach.
"If I have to wait Mathew...so do you!"
Standing, she picked him off the floor and carried him in to the kitchen where Mulder now stood with a glass of eggnog. He leaned against the counter as Bill and Tara sat at the table and her mother fiddled with the pots on the stove. She handed Mathew over to his mother who promptly left with promises to return after her child was asleep. "How's the SS Marimar Bill?" she asked, pouring a small glass of wine for herself.
"Still floating." Bill drank his beer quietly not wanting to discuss work, without being allowed to ask about his sisters, but he'd already been instructed that it was a no go area.
"Tara was saying that she's going back to work? That's great news." She pulled chair out from the table and sat down facing her brother, but the snort that came as a form of a response surprised her enough to make the wine halt halfway to her lips. "Don't give me that women in the workplace crap, Bill."
"He wouldn't dare," her mother joined in, turning to face her older son who was rapidly becoming uncomfortable with the scrutiny.
"I better go see if Tara needs any help."
He flew out of the room as quick as he dared and Scully looked over to see Mulder swirling his eggnog in his glass while studying his feet. She pulled the chair next to hers out and patted the seat, urging him to sit down and it was then that Mrs. Scully noticed the limp he carried as he crossed the room.
"Are you hurt Fox?"
"No, no, just a twisted ankle. I'm fine."
"We should get that shoe off and your foot elevated," Scully announced as she watched him sit down.
"I'm fine, it hardly even hurts."
"You are the worst liar Mulder, c'mon, come with me."
She stood leaving her wine glass on the table, relived him of his glass to leave next to hers, and he took her outstretched hand, blushing when a quick glance confirmed that Mrs. Scully was watching them. Slowly she led him out to the living room where she gently pushed him onto the seat and pulled the stool over for his foot to rest on.
"Can I get you some ice?"
"No, really Scully, it's fine."
"How about a painkiller?"
"No... forget it."
"I do feel bad Mulder. If I hadn't convinced you to come over, you wouldn't have been hurt rushing for the cab."
"Yeah true...but I'd also be sitting at home alone, freezing with no power or heat, in the dark." His voice was low as if it were a secret he was uttering and she suddenly realized what part of that scared him the most. Perching on the arm of his chair she rested one hand on his shoulder and smiled at him as she tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Well you're not alone. Although when karaoke hour comes you may wish you were."
His face fell and paled before her aqua blues eyes and she laughed loudly as she stood at the behest of her mother, who called her from the kitchen. Mulder glanced around the room, until his eyes fell back on his foot he had perched on the stool, he grinned, shaking his head at his own stupidity.
He'd known it was icy, that his laces were undone, but it wasn't enough to stop his hurried shuffle down the path to the waiting cab. The curb had felt hard and heavy as his twisted and fell with a groan, spying the drivers amused smirk at his misfortune from his vantage point on the ground. He gathered himself up with what little dignity he could muster and leaned into the car, wincing at the sharp pain that stabbed at his foot. Rubbing his ankle tenderly, he called out her address and made it to her mother's, and now looking down at the throbbing foot he pursed his lips.
The room around him seemed to match the atmosphere at Scully's place, with the fire lit, the tasteful decorations and cards bestowing warm holiday greetings lining the mantelpiece. With a stifled moan, Mulder gripped the arms of the chair and stood up. He carefully made his way to the line of cards and fingered them gently. He threw a quick glance over his shoulder before picking one up and opening it to read the simple message inside. It had been a long time since he'd received such a greeting, or for that matter sent a Christmas card and the stab of nostalgia that pierced him was both surprising and warming. He couldn't help but reach for another.
When he tried not to step on his sore foot, he over stretched, dragging the card between his fingers, tasting that sharp stinging pain that only a paper cut can inflict.
"Dammit," he uttered pulling his finger into his mouth, leaning full force on his ankle as he twisted away from the fireplace. "Gimme a god dammed break."
He put the card back on the mantelpiece still sucking on his sore miniscule cut that seemed to be pumping with pain with every amplified beat of his heart. A light cough behind him caught his attention, and he turned to find Bill standing in the doorway, his hands on his hips and his smile non- existent.
"Find something interesting Mr. Mulder?"
"I was just looking at the lovely cards." Mulder dropped his injured finger from his lips and faced Bill, fully determined not to show the irritating pain he was feeling.
"It's what happens at Christmas when you have friends." Bill walked towards him and for a startling moment, Mulder was sure that he was going to thump him, until he reached for the poker to stoke the fire. The festive music had stopped as the tape reached the end and the room exploded with a tense silence, punctured only by Bills angry stabbing. But before Mulder could attempt to alleviate it, Scully walked in and frowned at the sight of him standing.
"Mulder, I thought I told you to stay sitting."
"I was just looking at the eh...cards."
"Well food is ready so come on in. You too Bill but wash your hands."
The meal passed without incident even with Bill sitting directly across from Mulder, their eyes locking occasionally but thankfully nothing came of it and thinking back on the day he'd just had, he wouldn't have been surprised if he found himself on the receiving end of a cold hard Navy punch.
The offerings of his washing up services where hushed with waves of towels, and he soon found himself sitting on the couch with Scully, her side pressing against him warmly. She had started the tape again and smiled at him shyly as the gentle crooning of Bing Crosby diluted the room with the Christmas spirit.
"How's your foot Mulder? You should have it elevated."
"It's fine Scully, it's just been twisted."
"If it swells it-," she began sitting forward and reaching out to examine it.
"Scully if it swells it will go down...forget it!" He caught her hand before she could reach his ankle and pulled it up onto his lap, holding it there firmly.
"Oh thank god he's gone to sleep."
Tara walked in and sank heavily into the armchair, her hair mussed and a suspicious stain on her left shoulder. Distant clinking of delft could be heard as Bill and her Mother put the last of the dishes away. Scully sat up at the sound of them coming in through he kitchen. She reclaimed her hand from Mulder's lap to finger her hair away from her face with both hands blowing out a sharp breath that puffed her cheeks. Bill perched next to Tara, placing a loving arm around her shoulders in a tender gesture Mulder wouldn't have thought him capable of had he not seen it himself. Aware of how Scully had detangled herself from him, he remained still as she leaned forward watching her mother's progress across the room to claim the second chair.
Mrs. Scully surveyed the room with a regal eye, her glance lingering on Mulder and Scully who sat uncomfortably in the centre of the room trying desperately not to lean against each other on the couch.
"I am glad you all could make it tonight, of all nights, to spend Christmas here."
"It certainly beats floating in the middle of some ocean, in a metal tub filled with lonely men," Bill quipped extracting a laugh from Mulder that no one expected, least of all himself. He swallowed it quickly under the eyes of the others but Mrs. Scully just smiled.
"Oh Bill, your father would go mad at that thought. He always made it home for Christmas..."
"So will I mom. So will I." He leaned down and kissed his wife on the head, but the moment was broken by the wail of a screaming child. "Doesn't mean I have to like it!" he joked as he hurried out of the room to sooth his child's fears. After a few moments when the cries could still be heard, Tara stood with a wan smile and bid everyone goodnight.
"I guess the Christmas spirit is hard to maintain when the child rules the roost."
Mrs. Scully groaned, rising from the seat she'd only claimed mere moments before and fixed the guard over the fire.
"Well the festivities will start early tomorrow so I'll say goodnight now."
"Okay mom, sleep well." Scully stood to kiss her mom and hugged her tightly.
"I fixed the spare room Fox if you decide to stay, you know you're welcome to."
"Thank you Mrs. Scully."
"Oh I think it's about time you learned to use my name Fox. After all, I took the time to learn yours!" she said over her shoulder smiling at her daughter who was hiding smile of her own.
The soft footfalls of her mom heading up the stairs remained the only sound in the house, save for the crackling of the fire and the quiet warbling of another musical Christmas hit. Mulder shifted his weight on the couch stirring next to her and making her look up.
"Are you okay Mulder, you seem kind of distracted?"
"I'm fine I'm just not having a very good day."
"Oh?"
It was posed as a question, but the small circle her lips made as she turned to face him with her body as well as her face, lifting one of her legs onto the couch and resting her arm along the back, distracted him to the point of not answering.
"Mulder?"
"I've just been having a bitch of a clumsy day. Nothing going quite right."
"Well maybe I can cheer you up then!"
Her smile was wicked. She pressed a finger to her lips as she stealthily pushed herself from the couch. He watched in awe at her exaggerated sneaky movements as she crossed the room to close the door from the hallway, and returned only to sit by the tree.
"Scully-."
"Shhhh," she urged smiling past her finger and patting the carpet next to her, silently thanking her mother for replacing the wooden floors before the holidays. Bemused and more than a little curious, Mulder joined her on the floor and crossed one leg beneath him, the sore one stretched out in front. She smiled at him for a moment, allowing just a hint of a giggle to escape her lips before she reached under the tree and pulled a small parcel out from the back.
"I got this for you."
"Scully I don't..."He glanced down at the perfectly wrapped cube she was offering and thought of the mess of bundled gift paper he'd left with her present on his bed and sighed. "I left your gift at home."
"Don't worry about that Mulder. Open it," she pleaded with him, her excitement more infectious with every second.
"But it's only Christmas Eve..."
"I wont tell if you don't!"
The last piece of hesitance died on his lips as her whisper caressed his ears and he reached out for the small gift. Turning it over, he teased himself with its unknown contents, shaking it a little and weighing it in the palm of his hand. It was about six inches in diameter but he knew its contents were disguised by the wrapping. His smile grew with his need to rip it open but he wouldn't allow himself the simple pleasure, wanting to prolong the mystery, the excitement as it coursed through his body making his fingers twitch on the lip of tape that begged to be yanked from the corner of the inviting box.
Slowly, methodically, he inched his finger under the seam of the wrapping managing to get a hold until finally he pulled it free, tossing the paper where it fell. Tugging frantically to remove the rest he turned the small box over in his hand to find a magic eight ball looking back at him. Laughing with delight he removed it from the box and shook it to see the blue liquid swirl around the fortune dice inside.
"I didn't know you were a believer Scully!" he laughed shaking it again in front of her.
"I just thought you could do with the inside track for once!"
"Thanks, it's great." His voice took on a sombre tone but she didn't want him to dwell on that, so she reached out and took it from him.
"Does it work?"
"Try it and see."
She lifted it up and shook it with exaggerated movements as she tried to think of what to ask. The sloshing sound of the liquid cut through the silence before she held it out and asked in an even voice, "Has Mulder got me a wonderful gift?" Flipping the ball over, he leaned in closer to her to see her fortune.
"Ask again later," she read aloud.
"Hang on let me try..." he took it from her and copied her movements, shaking the ball with an energy he hadn't possessed all day. "Does Scully deserve a wonderful gift from me?" He held it away from her for a moment, watching her tongue dart out to lick her lips in anticipation of the answer that awaited them.
"Absolutely," he read with a laugh.
"Seems to be working fine to me!"
He laughed aloud rolling the oval black ball between his fingers and watching the slow movement of the dark color against his skin. "These things can be dangerous Scully...in the wrong hands who knows what might happen..."
"Well I'm hoping you'll only use it for good!"
"I promise nothing, Scully," he muttered, voice heavy with the breath that he wasn't aware he'd been holding. The ball halted its quirky movements and she looked down as it rolled from his hands and onto the carpet, coming to stop by his foot. She looked up to see him watching her and wasn't aware of him getting closer until his breath warmed her cheeks, charging her lips with a thrill she hadn't felt in a long time. He was so close she could almost make out the colored lights from the tree in his eyes. With only a second's hesitation, as if granting her the time to move away, he closed the final distance and kissed her gently. Catching only the corner of her mouth his lips moved against hers, enhancing the sensation as she angled more closely to him, reaching a tentative hand out to his side.
Taking her movement as encouragement, he applied more pressure to her lips twisting his body to face her, ignoring the pain from his foot, he enjoyed the unhurried movements as he explored the moistness of her mouth. Scully shuddered and as if giving in fully, her other hand coming up his arm to grip his neck and hold him tightly against her. Mulder gave a stifled moan and began to kiss her harder, pushing her back until she lay down on the carpet until he loomed over her, their lips never breaking contact.
His trembling hand rested on her stomach, hot and heavy but unable to move, as their kiss deepened and slowed to the gentle exploration their first kiss deserved. But as Mulder finally realized he had the power to move his hand, he brought it round to encircle her waist wanting to feel her fully next to him, and it was then that the door opened, followed but a loud curse.
Scully sat bolt upright as Mulder jerked away, both of them looking red- faced at Bill who stood angrily in the doorway. Bill was now right in the room as they scrambled to their feet and he hovered over them forebodingly, his frown evident and clearly aimed at Mulder.
"What the hell..." he bellowed.
"Bill, leave it," she argued, stepping in front of Mulder as if to protect him.
"Dana what do you think-," Bill began but she cut him off with a finger pointing at his chest.
"Bill. Just. Leave. It." Her words were loud and clear but she turned to Mulder as his hand clasped around her arm; he was shaking his head.
"I better go."
"Yeah you better." Bill's anger seemed only intensified by Mulder's willingness to leave. He glowered at him as he bent down to grab the eight ball and circled the couch to collect his jacket from the banister.
"No Mulder wait." She called after him, but as he made it to the front door he pulled his coat up around his neck. "Don't go."
Her pleading voice almost made him stay but it was an argument that had been festering for a long time between her and her brother but he preferred if they had the chance to fight it out in private.
"I better go Scully. Don't worry." With a cautionary glace over to Bill who was glaring at him with undisguised contempt, Mulder bent down and kissed her lingeringly on the lips, daring to keep the warm contact a moment longer than was necessary, pulling away before his hands and fingers got him in worse trouble.
Of course I had to leave it on a cliff hanger... bwuhaaa haaa haaa