The Thanksgiving Date

Part 4

by Trycee

Time Line: Post IWTB

Disclaimer: I do not own the X-Files, this is written for fun not profit.

Maggie could see her children out the corner of her eye as she talked with her date. She could see them huddled together just as they would as children and though they were all grown-up with children of their own, she could tell they were up to something and that something had to do with her date. She smiled at Willis, not really hearing what he was saying, but instead was concentrating on her kids and she knew she would soon have to put her foot down with them and let them know she could date if she wanted, after all she was still a viable, attractive woman and had resisted dating anyone after her husbands death until now. She could tell from the looks on their faces they thought her relationship was more serious than it was. If she didn't get ahold of it now it would grow like a disease and ruin her Thanksgiving dinner and she would not have that. She could also see Mulder sitting on the couch, looking bored, fidgeting around as if he had a nervous condition, she had to finish work on dinner and so she guided Willis over to sit near Mulder, they could have a nice little chat.

"Dana, Jill, Tara," she said in the motherly tone she always used. "Help me in the kitchen, girls..."

Scully glanced over to Mulder and was surprised to see Willis sitting near him on the other end of the couch. Mulder still had the plastic fake smile plastered onto his face and so she walked over to him and kissed him gently, running her fingers through his hair. "Just remember...how worst can it get?", she smiled.

He gave her a look and she smiled and then turned to follow her mother and two sister-n-laws into the kitchen. Bill and Charles and his two sons all had turned their attentions to the two men on the couch. He knew Charles didn't hate him but he knew Bill did and he felt he could relate to Willis at that moment as if they were both facing a similar fate at the hand of a firing squad. Bill motioned for his brother and nephews to follow him, he grabbed up his son Matthew and they all retreated into the den. He could hear the pre-game come on and he wished he were there but he knew he wasn't invited amongst them, no, he was left alone to sit with Willis O'Conner who glanced his way a few times. He turned and reached out his hand. "Fox Mulder."

"Willis O'Conner..."

"Nice to meet you," he smiled.

"I don't think they like us," O'Conner motioned to the opening of the den.

"I'm used to it," Mulder laughed lightly. "So you're a retired Naval Captain. How'd did you know Captain Scully?"

"We grew up together, best friends, joined the Navy together. We're close until he was reassigned to San Diego. The Scully Family and mine would have bbq's together, though I don't think the kids remember those days much..."

"You were his best friend?", Mulder repeated.

"Yes," the elderly man nodded. "I was there when he met Maggie."

Mulder knew that this would not bode well with the Scully children but he kept his mouth closed.

"You were FBI?", O'Conner continued. "That's where you met Dana...Her mother told me..."

"Yes, we were partners..."

"Obviously you became more than partners," the man said cracking a smile.

Mulder nodded, a small smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. "Yes, obviously."

"Any kids?"

The man's questioning was beginning to irritate Mulder but he knew if he could continue to talk to the man, maybe he could ease Scully's mind about him dating her mom. "Yes one...a boy, William."

"I didn't see him I don't think," the man said, looking around.

Mulder looked the man over carefully and then he turned the question on the senior officer. "Did you have any kids?"

"Two boys, only one is still living. One died on a motorcycle. I just relocated here to be closer to the other one. Maggie and I have a lot in common. We met recently at church and how can you forget how beautiful she is!", he smiled over to Mulder.

Mulder could understand, he felt the same way about Scully. He was unaware of Matthew standing next to him, a cup of steaming hot cocoa in his hand that he accidentally spilled on Mulder's legs.

"Sorry dude," he said trying to balance his Ipod in one hand and a cup of hot cocoa in the other.

"Aunt Dana told me to give this to you."

Mulder shot a half hearted smile to Matthew and then stood up, heading for the kitchen. Scully spotted him right away as he stood in the doorway listening to the women's chatter about Willis, the kids, and their husbands as they chopped food, whipped side dishes, and basted the golden baked turkey. Scully washed off her hands and dried them on a dish towel and then came over to Mulder's side. "What happened?"

"He missed," Mulder whispered, pointing towards his pants.

She smiled broadly and then grabbed his arm, pulling him into the bathroom so she could dab his slacks with a wet towel. She could see right away that the stain was not coming out. "We still have our bags packed in the trunk, you're gonna need to change this...Sorry Mulder, you know...14 year olds and they're devices...He didn't do it on purpose."

"I know...I'm just glad his aim was off," he said, looking down towards his crotch.

"Me too," she said, as he leaned into her for a kiss but they were interrupted by Bill who glared at them from the bathroom entrance.

"You know you're conversation could be heard in the den," he announced.

"Whats the matter, not rated G enough for you, Bill?", Mulder asked with a smirk.

"I'm just stopping you before you get any further," he said, with his arms crossed heading back into the den. "Matt's fourteen..."

"What is he the sex police?", Mulder said loud enough for Bill to hear him.

He then imitated Bill's stance which made Scully laughed. "Go get those pants before Matthew spills more scalding hot liquid on you..."

"I will...", he said, turning towards the door.

"Oh," she said, gripping his arm. "What did you find out about Willis?"

"You're mom didn't say anything?"

"Not much...just that she'd invited him here."

He sighed and then placed a hand on her shoulder. "He was your dad's best friend...they grew up together...you used to go over his family's house for bbq's...he has two sons..."

Scully looked down at the floor and then looked up. "O'Conner...oh my god...my first kiss was with his son, Carter...He was such a bad kisser...he tried to feel me up and when I told Bill, he and Charles beat him up!"

Mulder's expression changed. He suddenly hated this Carter guy too. "And now his dad...your dad's best friend is dating your mom...", he said in a teasing tone.

"Keep it up Mulder and I'll have them beat you up!", she said, crossing her arms and sighing loudly.

"Not a chance, Scully...I could out-run them!", he smiled, heading towards the front door.

She stepped out of the bathroom and Bill stepped into the hallway. "We could kick his ass!"

"Bill! That's my...my..."

"You're what?", he demanded.

Dana arched her eyebrow classically and stood straight in front of her brother."The father of my child...my partner, my best friend...and my...Common-law-husband, like mom said," Scully said, turning from him and heading back into the kitchen.

Charles stepped out from the den. "Bill...stop being such an asshole! Leave them alone, will you...plus, mom's date is what we should be focusing on..."

Bill shook his head. "I heard Mulder tell Dana...He's dad's best friend...We used to have cook-outs together, apparently. You remember Carter and David O'Conner?"

"Yeah...we hated those assholes...didn't one kiss Dana?"

"Yeah...that's who his kids are...Can you imagine what a Thanksgiving with them would be like?"

Charles looked horrified. "It gets worst and worst..."

"I think it's time you and I had a talk with O'Conner..."

Willis sat on the couch sipping on a cup of hot cocoa Matthew had managed to bring him without spilling. He looked up at Maggie's boys as they both sat in arm-chairs across from him. Bill looked over to Charles who nodded and then they both turned an icy glare over to Willis O'Conner.

"So," Bill began. "You were our dad's best friend? Carter and David's dad?"

"That's right," Willis said delighted. "You remember now?"

"Not really," Charles waved.

"You just happened to meet our mom at church? Don't you think is odd that you would be messing with your best friends widow?"

Willis smiled at Bill and then over to Charles. "My son lives here. He so happens to live not far from here but he and his wife went to her in-laws for this Thanksgiving. Your mom was kind enough to ask me to come..."

"So you're trying to date our mom?", Charles said tactfully.

Mulder opened the front door, a pair of fresh clean slacks in his hand. He strolled past the living room headed straight for the bathroom. He could see Matthew and his two adult cousins seated around the television listening to the announcers discuss the upcoming game. "Hey, when does the game start?"

"Don't know," Junior said, eyeing Mulder suspiciously.

"Hey Uncle Mulder, " Patrick said, ushering him into the den. "I've got a question for you..."

Mulder stepped in, he immediately looked down at the stain on his pants and Matthew smiled guility.

"Shoot! Ask me anything", Mulder smiled.

"I'm just curious...", Patrick said, glancing over to his brother and then turning back towards Mulder. "You chased aliens for years..."

"Yeah," he said, looking at them closely.

"Did you find any? Are they real?"

Mulder smiled and then looked back at the door. "That's a question you should ask your Aunt Dana...I don't think it's my place to..."

"Just between us," Patrick continued.

"Alright," Mulder nodded. "Yes, they're real and I and your Aunt have seen them."

"You're crazy," Junior said shaking his head.

Mulder bit his lower lip. "Its not crazy...Junior. If you join the Army or the Navy in the next 2 yrs you may be fighting against them..."

Matthew and Patrick smiled his way but Junior didn't look amused. "Thanks for answering that question," the young man said.

Mulder turned on his heels and headed back to the bathroom. He quickly changed and then headed for his spot on the couch in the living room. He could see Bill and Charles interrogating Willis and so he sat down to even the playing field. Willis looked relieved at the sight of Mulder and nodded towards him. Mulder shyly smiled back and then focused his attention on Bill and the sour expression he had on his face. They're seemed to be a stand-off of some kind and Mulder was eager to find out what was happening.

"Are you dating our mom?", Bill asked, his face red, glaring at the older Captain.

Just then Maggie called out to all the men to come into the dining room for the dinner. Mulder shot up out his seat and nodded for Willis to follow him. The elderly man stood up straight, his chest pushed out pridefully and he walked with Mulder towards the dining room. Mulder patted his back and watched as he sat down next to Maggie. Mulder kissed Scully on the cheek and sat down next to her at the grand dining room table, watching as the rest of the Scully clan filed in.

The table was set elegantly with Maggie's finest. She was beaming ear to ear as she looked around the table at her family. "I'm so grateful everyone could make it this year. My entire family is here," she smiled.

Scully glanced over to Mulder and he could see she was thinking, Not the whole Family. He squeezed her hand and she relaxed. Maggie put a gentle hand on Willis' hand and Bill especially glanced over to both siblings. "I have an announcement to make," Maggie began.

Bill's face contorted as blood flooded his entire face making him look like he'd been sunburned. Scully looked panicked, glancing over to Mulder but he too looked shocked. Maggie smiled again as they waited in silence for her to say something. "Willis and I have decided to..."

Scully squeezed his hand harder and he winced in pain.

"Go on a real date," she began. "We have so much in common and we have so many good memories of your dad...that we think we'd try to go to the movies or something," she said, smiling over to Willis. He returned the smile. "If it doesn't work out than we'll remain good friends...but just in case you were thinking we were getting married or something," she said, looking at all three of her kids. "We're not! This is our first official date and I thought it would be appropriate to have it with my entire family present!"

Bill's face relaxed and Scully looked guiltily over to her brothers and then to Mulder. "That's great mom," she said, not looking at her.

"Good for you," Tara and Jill both said to Maggie.

"So stop giving him the third degree!", Maggie said strongly as she eyed her three children. "Got it?"

"Yeah, got it!", Bill said, turning a shade of pink.

Scully and Charles were both blushing pink as well. "I guess we'll stick to our own business," Scully said, looking to everyone but her mom.

"That's right!", Maggie said firmly. "Now, Willis, would you say the prayer?"

Everyone but Mulder bowed their heads and made the sign of the cross. Willis coughed nervously. "Bless us, O Lord! and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. "

"Amen," they all said, making the sign of the cross again.

Maggie smiled over to Willis and then turned towards her eldest son. "Bill, will you do the honors?"

He stood up and grabbed the knife to cut the turkey. Mulder had been eying the turkey the entire time they'd sat down and now he was curious as to what Bill would serve him. Bill cut into the turkey and everyone clapped and then he began serving each plate that was passed to him. Mulder's plate came back to him with slices of white meat and he groaned inwardly. Scully knew immediately what he was thinking and she turned to Bill. "Uh, Bill...Could you give Mulder the turkey leg."

Bill shot a look over to Mulder but then he caught his mother's glare and then smiled. "Sure...", he said as he cut the turkey leg and placed it on Mulder's plate. Mulder's eyes immediately lit up like a Christmas tree."

"Ah, the turkey leg," he said, smiling appreciatively to Maggie.

She nodded and then he turned back to Scully. "My hero," he whispered.

"And you're mine," she whispered back.

"Can you past the gravy?", Tara asked.

The gravy was near Matthew and so he stood up from the long table and began to bring the gravy over to where his mother was seated but he tripped and some of the gravy splashed onto Mulder's face. Scully giggled as Mulder sat there a moment, stunned with the gravy dripping down his nose. He took his napkin and wiped it off. "That kid has it in for me," he whispered to Scully.

"Well, he is Bill's son," she said, with a wide smile.

"Sorry dude," Matthew said, cleaning up the trail of gravy he had made on the table.

"No problem," Mulder said through gritted teeth.

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