The next morning, Scully awoke around eleven o'clock. She had a slight headache and the room was spinning a bit. She shook her head and tried to clear it, which only made it worse. The events of the ball and the 6 or so glasses of champagne came flooding back to her, as did the occurrence in her apartment with a certain attractive partner of hers. She moaned and flopped back against the pillows.

Mulder: Is my Sleeping Beauty finally awake?

Mulder walked into the room carrying a covered try and sat with it on the foot of the bed.

Scully: Did he just say MY? Sleeping Beauty? Hardly. And unfortunately, yes, I am awake, painfully awake. My head is moving in slightly slower circles than the rest of me.

Mulder: Well maybe breakfast will make you feel better.

Scully: You cooked breakfast?

Mulder: I got up about 3 hours ago and decided you had nothing to eat, I went shopping. So Coco Puffs and toast, garnished with two-extra strength Tylenol it is then.

He pulled the cover off of the tray to reveal two settings with just that.

Scully: Ooh, he's good. Coco Puffs, Mulder? What are you, ten?

Mulder: Hey, it's not Emeril, but what are you gonna do?

Scully laughed as she ate the sugary concoction with Mulder, which she was sure would give her a worse headache and add 5 pounds to boot. After they had finished, they started talking.

Scully: Why are you still here, I thought you would have left by now, Mulder. Not that I want you to go but I'm just saying that normally you wouldn't you know stay and do the whole breakfast thing for us. No, I don't mean that it's unusual for you to do this because you are sweet like that but I'm just trying to- oh God, I'm rambling, aren't I?

Mulder: (between laughs) Yeah. Well I decided that we could spend some time together during the day since it IS Christmas Eve and you will probably be going to your mother's house for dinner with the family. That is, if you want to. I mean I would understand if you had last minute shopping to do or something.

Scully: No, All my shopping has been done for a month. Yeah sure, that sounds great Mulder. You can come to my mother's this evening if you would like to. You know how much she enjoys your company.

Mulder: That would be- Hey! Wait a minute! You are not tricking me into going to the Scully family dinner just so you don't have to deal with Bill Jr. by yourself; he hates me, remember?

Scully: Damn, so close. OK, anyway, what do you think we should do today? Work on the case? Not all day, but I don't want to have 6 piles of paperwork to do next week.

Mulder: Sure, then maybe we could go to the movies and walk around a little bit. There is this new movie out with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. Rush Hour 2. The first one was really funny. Plus, maybe I'll learn some moves from Jackie and start dishing the hurt instead of being on the receiving end all the time.

Scully: Yeah, that sounds good. I'll check the papers to see what time the shows are. We might want to catch an early one because it is supposed to snow and I want to get to my mothers on time.

They made plans to go to the movies at 4:30, this would give them a little time to get ready and walk around DC first. As they walked around the city, they looked in the windows of the shops oh-ing and ah-ing at all of the gifts that were there. When they came to a jewelry store window, Scully had to stop and stare at a particular bracelet that was on display. She didn't realize she was fogging up the glass until Mulder started to chuckle.

Scully: What? What did I do?

Mulder: Nothing, you look like a kid in front of a toy store is all; a very expensive toy store. What are you looking at?

Scully: That bracelet. It is amazing don't you think?

The bracelet was beautiful. It was made of two-toned gold that was separated by links of white gold and the actual bracelet chain was made of pieces of gold that were about a half of an inch each. They had tiny diamonds in the center of each piece. It was showy but was not really flashy and Mulder thought that it would be perfect on Scully. He didn't say so; he just made a comment about how women always liked the most expensive stuff, which was true because the price tag on the bracelet said $950.00. Mulder moved on to the next store while he waited for Scully to stop drooling over the bracelet. She eventually got over it and they proceeded to the movie theatre that was about 3 blocks away.

They got in quickly and Mulder said he would handle the snacks while Scully went and got them seats. Finding seats was really not that hard because there was only one other group of people in the room. And it was a group of about 3 kids and 2 adults. Scully choose seats in the middle towards the back so they did not have to worry about the little kids making to much noise and chucking their popcorn around. Just when she was beginning to wonder where Mulder went, he walked in with every amount of junk food imaginable. He had a giant tub of popcorn balancing on his left hand while I his other hand he had two large sodas in a carrying tray with Milk Duds, Twizzlers, Reese's Pieces, and M&M's. He had a box of chocolate covered pretzels in his pocket and a box of Ju-Ju bees in his mouth. Scully had to stifle a laugh.

Scully: That's great, Mulder but what did you get for me?

Mulder: Very funny. I assumed you would want a diet coke? Extra large as usual but take it easy on this one. I don't want any mid-movies breaks for the bathroom again. I swear you have a bladder the size of a pecan! Besides, once this stuff is all down there is no getting out again. You would have to straddle me just to get to the aisle. Come to think of it, maybe I should have gotten you a bigger one.hehe.

Scully: Yeah, yeah all right. Now be quiet, I think the movie is going to start soon.

The movie passed without much event. Scully found it funnier than she expected and laughed out loud at several parts. Mulder enjoyed that because he didn't get to see her smile a lot, much less laugh. When the movie was about three quarters of the way over Mulder was intently watching while eating the popcorn. He had already finished the other assorted goodies that he had bought.

Scully was only half way through her soda. She reached over to get some popcorn and her hand brushed Mulder's as he was greedily reaching for more. Their eyes met and neither of the looked away. Mulder started to lean in as he looked like he was going to kiss her and Scully snapped out of it, grabbed her handful of popcorn and backed away. She shoved it in her mouth and chewed vigorously so she would not have to look at Mulder, who was still keenly watching her. She returned her hand to the armrest and was surprised to find that Mulder's upturned hand was already there.

Scully went to move her hand but Mulder grabbed her fingers in his and would not let go. She gave in and wrapped her fingers around his. For the rest of the movie they stayed like that. To anyone else, it would have seemed like they were a couple enjoying the movie but both their hearts were racing like a bunch of teenagers.

The movie ended and the other group left the theatre. Mulder and Scully were just looking at one another. Neither had really seen the end of the movie. They were too busy stealing glances at one another. Again, Mulder leaned in close to Scully until he was just a few centimeters away.

Scully: Mulder?

Mulder: Yes?

Scully: I really gotta pee.

Mulder: Way to savor the moment Scully.

Scully: What moment? You told me to wait until the movie was over. Just doing as I was told, as usual. I didn't want to interrupt your movie experience. Now if you'll get out of the way, I REALLY have to go.

Mulder: Sure, Fine, Whatever.

As Scully walked off, Mulder watched her and had to chuckle to himself.

Mulder: For an FBI agent, she doesn't catch on to the subtleties, unless she does but she is just trying to let me down easy. That figures. Why would she be interested in me anyways? She could have practically any guy she wanted. I don't think she knows that though. But how could she not know how attractive she is? Unless of course she DOES want me but she is afraid that it would ruin our professional relationship. That's the only thing I can think of. Unless.

Scully: Mulder, what the hell have you been doing in here for the past.8 minutes? Come on lets go!

Mulder: All right, I'm coming I'm coming.

They walked out of the theatre together and went outside. Scully gasped at what they saw. Snow had been falling only slightly when they entered the theatre and now it was coming down fast. At least 3 inches had fallen since they entered the building and more kept coming steadily. They hailed a cab back to Scully's apartment and hurried inside.

They were in there for no longer than 2 minutes when her phone rang. She picked it up. It was her mom telling her not to come to the house because they had already gotten 5 inches of snow and there was no way she would make it out there. Scully agreed and wished her mother a Merry Christmas, promising she would call tomorrow. No sooner had Scully hung up the phone that Mulder's cell phone rang. His hands were full with their jackets so he just hit speakerphone.

Mulder: Yeah, Mulder.

A husky female voice replied.

Voice: I have vital information on your case, Agent Mulder. Come to the Jade warehouse on the corner of Joy and Gallo Street at 7. Make sure you come alone. Store room 210.

Mulder: Why? Who is this? What do you want?

Voice: I want you there Agent Mulder: Seven o'clock. Be there. Remember to come alone.

With that, the mysterious caller hung up. Mulder scratched his head and looked at Scully. She was watching him and had a worried look on her face. He looked at the clock, it said 6:45.

Mulder: Don't worry about it. It is probably one of Cancer Man's goons. I'll be fine. I'll be done by 8 the latest.