Mrs Scully's House
9am, 23rd December

Mulder lifted his hand to ring the doorbell feeling slightly uncomfortable that he was intruding on a family holiday. He knew that he'd been invited, both by Scully and her mother, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he shouldn't really be there. Taking a deep breath, he went to press the bell but, before he could, the door opened abruptly. Expecting to see Mrs Scully, Mulder smiled and started to hand over the bouquet of flowers that he'd brought for her.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Bill... I... Nice to see you."

"I can't say the same for you. I asked you a question Mr. Mulder and I'm warning you if you're here to drag Dana off somewhere, she's not going anywhere with you."

"I'm not here to take her anywhere, she invited me to come today."

"What? Why the hell would she do that? She knows you're not welcome here. My mom will tell you that."

"Um... actually, your mom said that was okay, she asked me to come too."

"What?!!... Oh I see, 'tis the season and all that I suppose. Are you so pathetic that you actually accepted a sympathy invitation? Oh my God."

"What are you talking about Bill, you're sister wanted me to be here. She wouldn't have invited me if she didn't."

"Ha! Sure Mr Mulder. She invited you here because she's a good person and felt she should. She knew you didn't have anywhere else to go and she felt sorry for you. She obviously didn't think you would accept - no one does. Why would you think she would want you here? So you can ruin her life even more and hurt her again? You give her cancer and expect her to want you around?"

"I didn't give her..."

"Save it, 'Fox'. She told me you did. My mom told me too, they just don't know how to tell you that they know it's your fault. Believe me, I have no trouble telling you that. It's your fault my sister got cancer; you gave her it, 'Fox'. Bastard. That's all you are, a selfish pathetic bastard."

"Bill, I..."

"Mr. Mulder, I really don't think there's anything you should be saying now apart from goodbye. I don't even really want to hear it actually - just leave. You can do us all a favour and make sure it's for forever if you want."

Neither of the two saw the small child sitting on the stairs behind Bill, taking in every word spoken. After what Bill had said sunk in, Mulder turned away, trying not to let the hurt show on his face. As Bill closed the door, he walked quickly back to his car feeling stupid. He felt tears gathering in his eyes as he sat in the car trying to calm himself enough to drive away. As he took a final look at the house, he saw a small face looking out of the window and he felt a small tear slip down his cheek as he watched. He swiped at the tear quickly and took a deep breath to stop any more from falling.

'She blames me? I know it's my fault but she always said it wasn't. I didn't believe her when she said that but I trusted that she was telling the truth; that she didn't think it was my fault. Stupid fool. Of course she didn't want me here, why on earth would she? This is her family time. I don't belong here. How could I have thought that I did? Bill's right, I am a pathetic bastard'

He continued to berate himself for actually thinking he was welcome as he put his key in the ignition. Starting the engine, he drove away from the house full of joy and Christmas cheer towards his own lonely apartment. He slowed the car down as he realized that he could no longer see through the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

'You are not going to cry! You are going to pull yourself together and drive home. Home, on your own where you belong.'