Mulder looked around at the room and nodded, it was perfect. The table was set and part of the morning surprise. The tree was up in the corner of the room. He had had a hard time getting the tree in the house and set in the stand. It did not help to have Scully giggling in the corner, unable to really help, but also unable to contain her glee as she watched him. When he was finally done, he had needed three band-aids to cover his scratches. She had giggled the whole time she helped him, while he kept telling her to shut up. The kiss she gave him when she was finished made him forgot about her laughter.
After they had decorated the tree with rainbow lights, Scully had wanted to put popcorn on a string, something she said she and Melissa had tried to do one year. She had laughed as she told him that it had not gone very well as more popcorn ended up on the floor than on the string. She had done a good job this time and it looked nice on the tree.
The wreaths they had gotten from the tree farm were hanging on both the front and side door, and the items they had bought, and been gifted, were scattered all over the house. Their home now resembled a much smaller version of the gingerbread house at the tree farm. They had discovered many things they had not purchased on their own when they unpacked the bags from Howard and Betty.
Snowmen of different shapes and sizes, Santas with happy faces, a gingerbread house with boys and girls to match, wooden animals, nutcrackers, the beautiful nativity scene Scully had fussed over, angels, and numerous tree ornaments. Mulder's favorite was one inscribed with "Baby's First Christmas." On it, was a little snowman family, with rosy cheeks, the baby held close to their faces, all squished close together as if taking a photo. With a black marker, Betty had written "Faith, 2018" in beautiful lettering. Mulder had hung that one first, before any lights were added to the tree, Scully wrapping her arms around him as they looked at it.
Scully's favorite had made her cry. She had gasped when she found a large snow globe in a box, at the bottom of the bag. Along the base it was white and sparkly, resembling snow. Inside was a little house with trees, and a family of woodland animals gathered together. There was a fox, a rabbit, a bear, and a fawn. Scully cried as she touched the globe with her fingers and then turned it over, letting the snow fall on the animals.
There was a music box inside and when she wound it, it played "Greensleeves." She cried harder as she softly sang "What Child Is This?" to the tune of the music. Mulder sat next to her and reached for the box that had held the snow globe. Inside was a note in the same flourishy lettering as the baby ornament. He smiled as he read it out loud.
"Dana,
While you were here, I went back into the office for more tissue paper and this snow globe began to play a few notes. I thought perhaps you had played it while you were in there, and thought it was not for sale. On the contrary, it seemed to be calling to me that it was meant for you. I can't explain it, but I feel confident you will understand. It was a pleasure to meet you and your family. Have a wonderful Christmas and I hope to see you again next year.
Love,
Betty"
Scully sobbed as she held the snow globe in her hands and Mulder wiped away a tear of his own. He knew the importance of snow globes to Scully. The one Jackson had left for her, was up on their dresser and she touched it every day.
"Mulder," she had said between sobs. "I never touched it. I never even knew this was in there. If I had.. I would have asked if I could have it." She looked again at it and he did too. They were all there, the four of them with the little house behind them.
"Scully," he said with a small chuckle. "I'd say it was a touch of Christmas magic."
She sobbed out a laugh as she turned it over, and then wound the music box again. She put her head on his shoulder and they listened to the music play as they watched the snow fall on the woodland animal family that seemed to symbolize them. He hummed with the music, putting an arm around her, and kissing her head.
He smiled as he looked at the snow globe, sitting on the coffee table. He looked around again and checked to see if he needed to do anything else. It all seemed to be ready, he just needed to go wake Scully. He glanced upstairs and exhaled. This was going to be the tough part.
He walked up the stairs, his socks making his steps almost completely silent. He walked into their room and saw Scully practically buried in the covers. He laughed silently as he stepped close to the bassinet, looking in on Faith. She was still sleeping soundly.
He turned around and walked over to the bed, kneeling down and getting close to Scully. She was wrapped tightly in the blankets, just her head exposed, hair falling across her face. He moved her hair and smiled as she moaned lightly.
"Scully," he whispered, putting his mouth close to her ear. "Honey, wake up."
She moaned again and her eyelids fluttered. He kissed her temple and she moved, opening her eyes, then furrowing her brow as she closed them again.
"Just bring her to me, Mulder. I'll feed her here," she said in a sleepy voice. He smiled as she began to shift around to get ready to nurse the baby.
"No, Scully, she's still sleeping," he said quietly, stopping her hands. "She is, but you need to get up."
She opened her eyes and stared at him. Oh, there it was, the infamous Scully look. He knew better than to laugh, but he wanted to so badly.
"She's not awake and you're waking me? What the hell? What time is it?" she asked him, her stare burning into him. "Mulder, it's still dark, what time is it?"
He sighed and her eyebrow went up. "It's early Scully, but it's Christmas morning," he said, letting it sink in for a second. When she did not jump out of bed and run down the stairs, he tried again. "Did you hear me? Christmas morning, Scully."
She kept staring at him and then she sighed. She began to pull the covers back around herself, but then a hand reached for him. He took her hand and she tugged at it. He grinned and pulled the covers back and lay down next to her as she made room for him.
It was warm and smelled of Scully in her little cocoon. She snuggled close to him and sighed. He held her and closed his eyes. He stroked her hair and she hummed.
"You know we don't have any plans today, we could do Christmas at any time," she whispered before she kissed his neck. He laughed and she hummed again, settling against him.
"I know we could, but then it's not Christmas morning, Scully," he whispered back. She laughed softly and held him tighter.
"Okay, Mulder," she sighed. "Okay, but I'm gonna need some things. My robe and a pair of fuzzy socks. You get that ready, and I'll come downstairs with you."
He laughed quietly and kissed her head. He disentangled from her and got out of bed. She yelped at the cold air that came in when he got out. He tucked her back in and went to fill her requests. He grabbed her robe from behind the bathroom door and a pair of socks from her drawer.
He went to the edge of the bed and pulled the covers back, exposing her bare feet. She yelped again, pulling her feet back, but he grabbed them and put on her socks. He put the covers back down and then walked to the side of the bed and pulled those covers back. She gave him a murderous look and he stared at her, holding open her robe.
"This better be worth it," she said as she got out of bed and shivered. He scoffed as he helped her put on her robe and then tied the belt for her. "Can I use the bathroom and brush my teeth before we head down?"
He nodded and stepped out of her way. She walked past Faith and smiled, then yawned as she went into the bathroom. He waited for her by the door, tapping his hands against his legs. Finally she came out, her hair all mussed and bleary eyed. She stopped by the bassinet again and pointed at Faith.
"She'll be fine. Come on," he said quietly to her, motioning her over.
She sighed as she walked over to him. He turned and she gasped behind him. He turned around to find her showing him her phone.
"It's 5:30 in the morning, Mulder!" she whispered through gritted teeth. "She won't be awake for almost two hours!"
"Why do you think I woke you up now?!" he answered her, waving his arms at her.
She stared at him, her look changing to one not quite so murderous. She sighed and stepped close to him. She stroked his face and put her phone in her robe pocket.
"Okay, I get it. Let's go," she said with a tired smile. He smiled back and walked to the stairs. She followed behind him and he turned before they walked down the stairs.
"Close your eyes," he said, looking at her.
"Down the stairs?" she said raising her eyebrows.
He nodded and took her hand, looking at her. She sighed and closed her eyes. He turned around and began to lead her down the stairs. She held his hand and his shoulder as they walked down the stairs.
"It smells good down here," she said, sniffing the air. "I smell coffee and cinnamon." He ignored her and counted the steps instead, as she laughed quietly.
"I know how many steps we have, Mulder," she said snidely.
"Just trying to be thorough," he said back to her. She chuckled again as they arrived at the bottom step.
He turned and stood in front of her, holding both her hands in his. "Are you ready?" he asked her quietly.
"Mm-hm," she said, her eyes closed as her lips curled up into a smile.
"Okay," he said, letting go of one hand and stepping to her side, holding the other. "Open your eyes." He watched her face as she did and was not disappointed.
She gasped as she looked around. He watched her eyes take everything in, all the new items in the room. There were white candles of various sizes lit around the room, the coffee table had candy dishes full of treats, the dining room table had a red tablecloth with golden candlesticks, and the tree had more ornaments than it did last night. There were more decorations and he knew she recognized them when she stifled a cry.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Oh, Mulder.." she said, touching his chest as she stepped forward. She walked over to the tree, touching an ornament, then putting out her hand behind her. He walked toward her and took her hand. She locked her fingers with his and touched the ornament again.
"You went to my mom's," she said, tears in her voice, as she lovingly held the ornament in her fingers.
He knew it was her favorite. One year when they had been at her mother's for Christmas, she stood by the tree and showed him all the ornaments her mother had saved over the years. The one Scully loved most, she had made in second grade. It was a picture of baby Jesus in the manger. To it she had added a wooden circle and some lace. She had glued the wood over the picture and cut the lace to sit under the wood.
She told him how she loved it because she was the only one to get that particular picture. He could imagine her as a precocious seven year old, red pigtails, her legs swinging under her desk, happy to have the one picture everyone coveted, as she concentrated on creating the perfect Christmas ornament. She had shown him all her favorites and then smiled at him, stepping back to show him the ugly one Bill had made when he was seven.
She let go of his hand and walked around the tree, looking at all the new ornaments he had added. She laughed and cried in turn as she touched them and told him of their origin. He had heard it before, but he simply smiled and nodded, letting her tell him again of her past.
"I can't believe you did this," she said, looking at him and giving him a small smile.
"Worth waking up early?" he asked, teasingly.
She stepped close to him and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. He held her waist and leaned into her kiss. She pulled back and they rested their foreheads together. She pulled back further and smiled at him. She moved her arms and wrapped them around his waist, her head on his chest.
Her heard her gasp again as she stepped away from him, walking toward the stairs. He smiled as she touched one of the stockings he had hung there, each on a different step.
"Mulder," she said quietly, exhaling as she did. She turned to him with tears in her eyes and smiled.
He looked at the stockings, one very old, one slightly old and two brand new. Scully's stocking was the one she had since she was a young girl. Mrs. Scully had purchased one for him years ago and hung it with the family stockings on her mantle. Mulder had hugged her, quietly thanking her as he did. She had touched his face, smiling at him as she went to grab more cookies.
He walked over to Scully and put his arm around her shoulders. She touched the two newest stockings and she sighed.
"Mulder," she said again, taking the stockings off the holders he had purchased. She looked at them closer and shook her head.
He had gone out to get the tree lights and was contemplating the stockings he had found, when he remembered the ones at Mrs. Scully's. He bought the tree lights, two new stockings, one for Faith and Jackson, and the holders for them. He made a decision to stop quickly by Mrs. Scully's house and bring the decorations home with him. He knew where she kept them in the attic, as he had put them away one year. Mrs. Scully had had a bad bout of the flu after Christmas and they had gone to check on her. He had offered to put the decorations away while they were there, earning him one of his favorite meals when she felt better.
He had not told Scully he had stopped by her mom's and brought over the decorations, wanting it to be a surprise. He waited until she was asleep, knowing she would be out for a few hours. He brought the bins in and set up the items he knew she would enjoy. The ornaments, a tree skirt, the festive candy dishes Scully was always sneaking treats from, candles her mother had set up every year, their stockings, the table settings and a few other decorations.
He watched her holding and touching Jackson's stocking in particular. He had picked a dark blue one with a white "J" on it. Of all the stockings, it had seemed like the one a boy of his age would choose.
"I hope it's okay, Scully," he said quietly. "For so long, mention of him was something that hung around us like a black cloud. Something that affected both of us and hindered who we became. I know we don't want that, but I also never want to cause you any undue sadness. After all that's happened, I felt it was better to have it than to intentionally not have it. Is it okay?"
She hung the stockings back on their hangers: Mulder's, hers, Jackson's, and then Faith's. She sighed again and wrapped her arms around his waist, his arm still around his shoulder, as they looked at the stockings.
"It's perfect, Mulder. Thank you," she whispered, "If we never see him again, I still want it known that he is and always will be a part of this family. I want Faith to know of him. This is exactly what we need."
She turned and looked up at him, shaking her head. "You continue to amaze me, Mulder. I.. I love you so very much."
She kissed him lightly on the lips and he smiled as she stepped back. He stroked her face and nodded toward the kitchen. She turned her head and looked back at him with a frown. He turned her around and gave her a little push toward the kitchen, smacking her on the ass lightly. She chuckled and walked to the kitchen.
She touched the tablecloth and smiled as she looked at the items on the table. There was a large Christmas platter of Mrs. Scully's, which she served the turkey or ham on, a green bowl with holly painted on the inside and outside, and a large red bowl with white snowflakes on it. The plates were white with the same holly pattern as the bowl.
Scully looked at him and sighed, shaking her head. He smiled and stepped past her, he took two coffee cups out of the cupboard and poured them each a cup. He opened the oven, grabbed an oven mitt, and took out the cinnamon rolls he was keeping warm. He set them on the table and put one on a plate for each of them. He handed her her cup and plate and motioned to the couch.
She laughed and followed him over, setting her stuff down and then sitting down herself. He set his stuff down and ran quickly up the stairs to check on Faith. He smiled to see she was still sleeping. He had such a desire to scoop her up and bring her downstairs. He knew Scully would never forgive him, so he let her remain sleeping.
He went back downstairs and saw Scully drinking her coffee, in her cozy robe, her feet tucked under her, her hair long and still sleep tousled. He shook his head at how she could possibly be a woman in her fifties. She still looked so much like the young woman standing in the pouring rain in a graveyard. She was so beautiful.
She looked up at him as he walked down the last few steps. "She's still asleep," he said as he joined her on the couch.
"Oh, she didn't wake up and smile at you again?" she asked, her tone snarky.
"No. Maybe later though," he said, glancing at her sideways.
She shook her head and exhaled. "I can't believe that I carried her inside my body, pushed her out of my body, and yet she smiled at you first," she said, throwing up one of her hands. He laughed and after a few seconds she joined him.
On the way home from the tree farm she had turned to him with a grin and said that Faith had smiled at her when she nursed her earlier. Her eyes had sparkled and she was so happy, he decided not to tell her about the waiting room, when Faith had smiled at him.
She knew him too well, though, and she sighed as she looked in his eyes and realized it was not the first smile of the day. She had pouted and not spoken to him no matter how he cajoled her. He knew what would cause her to cave and so he stopped and got them milkshakes. She accepted hers, squeezing his fingers, and smiling at him.
She sighed next to him now, taking a drink of her coffee. He watched her look around the room and he smiled. She caught his eye and she smiled back.
"Mulder, I love what you have done, the work you put into this day," she said, reaching for his hand. "It's all so beautiful."
He nodded, squeezing her hand, before letting go and reaching for his coffee and her cinnamon roll. She took it from him and smiled again. He took her coffee from her and nodded at her to eat. She rolled her eyes and took a bite, eating the rest of it fairly quickly.
He took the plate and handed her coffee back to her. "Should we do presents now?" he asked her excitedly. She choked on her coffee and he stood up as he took a large drink of his own and set the cup down.
"Mulder," she said still coughing. He waved her words away and bent down and reached way under the tree and then inside the tree branches as he stood up. He had three gifts in his hands as he walked over to her.
He took her coffee cup again and handed her the gifts. He set her cup down next to his and plopped down on the couch. She was staring at the gifts in her lap and she shook her head as she looked at him.
"Open the small one last," he said, taking the one he had pulled from the tree and holding it in his hands.
"Mulder," she began, but he stopped her by tapping the box on top and gesturing for her to get going.
She sighed and unwrapped the box. She lifted the lid, opened the tissue paper, and laughed. He smiled as she picked up the item out of the box. It was a poseable skeleton on a stand. She giggled as she moved the arms and legs around, opening and closing the jaw.
"You're going to be out of the doctor world for awhile, I didn't want you to get rusty," he said as she set the skeleton on the coffee table, its arms raised to the heavens.
She bonked him on the head with the box before she tossed it on the floor. He tapped the next box and she laughed as she tore open the wrapping paper. The lid came off and the tissue paper opened, but this time she gasped. She took the gift out of box and exhaled.
"Mulder, this is beautiful," she said quietly, opening up the blue scarf he had picked out for her. It was the color of her eyes and as she put it on, he was struck again by her beauty.
He helped her adjust it over her robe, holding onto it as he held her still for a kiss. She kissed him back, her hands over his, as they held the scarf. She pulled back, her eyes staying closed, a soft smile on her lips. She opened her eyes and moved her hands to his face. She stared at him, smiling, and then shaking her head.
"I love you," she whispered, stroking his face.
"No sugar, Sherlock," he whispered back, making her laugh. He kissed her again and then sat back, reaching for the small gift.
He handed it to her and she took it with a sigh. She took off the wrapping paper and found a jewelry box. She looked at him, and he nudged her to open it. She did and she let out a deep breath.
"Oh, Mulder," she said looking at the earrings he had picked out. She took them out and held them in her hands. She put them in her ears, looked at him, and smiled.
"So, when I bought your necklace, I also bought these," he said pushing her hair back and looking at the earrings, then moving her scarf slightly to be able to see her cross. "Knowing we would basically be shut in for awhile, I needed to stock up on gifts. I honestly can't believe I kept them a secret for the past two months." She laughed and he smiled.
The earrings were the perfect size. She did not wear earrings much bigger than studs when they were at the bureau, but she chose differently when she was on her own time. He picked out small dangly round opals set in gold. It was not exactly a set, but they very nearly matched the cross necklace he bought. He liked that they were antiques and something someone else had worn and loved. He smiled again and she sighed.
"Mulder, I love these gifts," she said, her eyes holding his. "But I don't have anything for you. Nothing." She sighed again, shaking her head.
He smiled slowly at her and cupped her cheek. Her eyes were anxious as he stroked his thumb across her cheek. He looked at her face and wondered how she could not know, after all this time.
"Scully," he whispered. "You're here. We're here. That's all I could ask for, or ever need."
"Mulder," she began, but he stopped her.
"Scully," he said, moving his hand and taking hers in his. "Last year, I woke up in this house alone. It wasn't different than the day before, but it was Christmas. I came down here, the house empty and quiet, and sat on this couch, alone. I know the day didn't matter, but still. We met for lunch, remember? That Jewish deli? We had a good time, and I wanted you to come home with me. Not for anything other than I didn't want to be alone, not on that day. But, I did and it felt lonelier than normal. I hated it."
He looked around the room and smiled. The Christmas tree giving off a wonderful scent, the ornaments both old and new, and then at the woman beside him. He lifted her hands to his lips and kissed them both.
"No gift you could buy, could compare to this, Scully. This morning with you, it makes the quiet lonely day from last year worth it," he said quietly, kissing her hands again.
She pulled her hands from his and wrapped her arms around his neck. She pulled him to her lips and thoroughly kissed him, laying back on the couch, as he settled over her. Her nails scraped at the base of his neck and he moaned into her mouth. She shifted her legs, running her foot up his calf, when they both heard a cry from upstairs.
Her arms slackened and he pulled back from her mouth, his head falling onto her shoulder and into the softness of her scarf as he groaned. She laughed, running her fingers through his hair and her foot down his calf.
He sighed as he pulled back further, kissing her once more before he rose off the couch. She smiled at him before she sat up, taking off her scarf and putting it back in the box.
"Stop standing there and go get our daughter," she said, taking her phone out of the pocket of her robe, before she took it off and laid it on the couch. She turned some Christmas music on with her phone and looked at him again. "Go, Mulder. She needs to eat and she needs to see the surprises her daddy set up."
He grinned at her and went up the stairs. Faith had wiggled her arms out of her blankets. Her face was scrunched up and red as she cried. He spoke to her as he got closer, picking her up and shushing her. She quieted down when she realized she was not alone.
He took her in her room and changed her diaper, putting her pink fleece snowflake pajamas back on before he picked her up again. He kissed her soft cheeks and held her to his chest, murmuring his love for her. He closed his eyes as he breathed in her baby scent. He kissed her head and then went downstairs.
Scully was sitting cross legged on the couch, a pillow on her lap, her eyes closed. She opened them when he arrived at the bottom of the stairs. She smiled at him and jerked her head toward the tree. He smiled and walked over, telling Faith about it, showing her the ornaments and the lights. He showed her the candles and the stockings, telling her how next year, hers would be full of toys and yummy treats.
He turned to Scully who sat smiling as she reached out for Faith. He walked to the couch and handed her over. She focused on Scully's face as Scully spoke to her, lifting her pajama top, and opening her nursing bra. Faith watched her intently before she smiled. Scully whipped her head up and smiled at him before bending her head to kiss Faith's cheeks.
She got Faith situated on her breast and looked up at Mulder with tears in her eyes. He smiled at her and kissed the top of her head. She looked back down at Faith and hummed along to the music coming from her phone. He watched them and then walked over to the tree as he looked around the house again.
It was cozy and he felt again that feeling of happiness and peace. Yes, the decorations and the tree added to it, but the two people on the couch were the reason he felt this peace. He laughed incredulously and shook his head.
"What's got you laughing over there, Mr. Chuckles?" Scully asked in a low voice.
He had his eyes on the "Baby's First Christmas" ornament and again he laughed. He turned to her and she looked up at him, her eyebrows raised. He stared at her, this woman who came unexpectedly into his life, who became the one person he could not live without, who he would go to the ends of the earth for, and who he loved more than anything. He looked at this woman, sitting holding their child as she nursed and nourished her, a modern day Mary, and he laughed, the tears close behind.
He walked over and knelt in front of her. He kept his eyes on hers as he placed a hand on her arm that held their baby. He smiled at her and sighed.
"Reason and Faith in harmony," he said quietly. He looked down at Faith, stroking her head as she ate. He looked back at Scully and she smiled at him.
She leaned forward slightly and their foreheads came together. He closed his eyes as she exhaled and he responded in kind. Faith's little hand hit his chest and he took her hand in his fingers. As he leaned against Scully, their daughter's hand in his, music playing low in the background, he had never felt more complete.
Reason and Faith in harmony, he thought once more, his love for his little family filling the empty places inside him with happiness and light.