The Thanksgiving Date

Part 5

by Trycee

Time Line: Post IWTB

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

Throughout the meal, Mulder kept a watchful eye on both Matthew and Bill. He couldn't tell from the shy smile that Matthew shot his way if it were a series of accidents or on purpose that he kept getting nailed by Matthew. He was young, tall like his father which may account for his clumsiness but he also saw what he thought to be a prideful look given to him by his father. He knew Bill was happy to see him with gravy all over his face but he couldn't be sure if it were accidental. He could see Scully eying him closely, boring into him, letting him know psychically as they always communicated that she knew what he was thinking and to not even THINK about it. He turned and smiled sheepishly at her but he was waiting for his turn for revenge and he hoped that he didn't embarrass Scully with his childish act or disappoint Maggie in anyway or incur the wrath of Bill, but he just needed one little moment to pay young Matthew back.

His moment came after dinner still seated at the table when everyone braced themselves for dessert. Maggie asked someone to help her serve the desserts and Mulder laid his hand on Scully to stop her from getting up. "I'll help," he told her and then followed Matthew and Jill back into the kitchen with Maggie. He knew Scully would preferred the strawberry Jello with whipped cream to pie anyway, so he reached for it, along with a piece of pumpkin pie for himself. Matthew stood before him, a platter of pies in his hands, various kinds and though the boy was tall, he hadn't yet reached Mulder's height, let alone Bill's yet, so when he saw his opportunity, he 'accidentally' let the Jello fall onto Matthew's strawberry blond curly locks. "Oops," Mulder said, "Sorry dude..."

Maggie shook her head, giving Mulder the same eye that Scully always gave him and then handed a napkin over to a stunned Matthew. Mulder smiled guiltily to Maggie and then tried to help Matthew clean up. Fortunately it wasn't too much of a mess. Matthew shrugged it off and then took the tray back in to serve the desserts and then Mulder grabbed another Jello as Maggie watched him. He then turned to face her.

"Fox...I have to hand it to you, you got your payback, didn't you?"

"Me? No, that was an accident," he smiled slyly. She like Scully could cut through him with her eyes and he could tell she wasn't buying any of what he was selling.

"I'll keep this to myself," she smiled. "Because if Dana found out, you'd be a dead man right now."

He looked down at the his feet and then up to Maggie Scully. He felt like a child getting caught doing something right in front of their mother and then denying it. "Yes, I would be..."

"Come on," she said, gesturing for him to follow her back into the dining room. "Let's go enjoy this family holiday together..."

"Alright," he said, following behind her.

He rejoined Dana at the table, placing the Jello in front of her. She shot a look over to Matthew who still had a tiny piece of red jello in his hair and then to Bill who apparently was none the wiser, and then she re-focused on Mulder, giving him one of her patented, I know what you just did Mulder looks. He glanced over to Maggie and she smiled a reassuring smile and then he dipped into his pie, keeping one eye on his food and the other to the small red head next to him.

After the meal, the men except for himself and Willis had all gathered in the den to watch the Lions game while the women cleaned up. Mulder had asked Willis to join him outside in the fresh air. He wanted to run to work off some of the delicious food especially the turkey leg he now regretted eating though it tasted so delicious. He couldn't run in his slacks and sweater so he asked if Willis would like to join him in walking around the neighborhood. He had to slow his pace to a crawl for the elderly Captain to walk with him but he could tell the man was prideful and stubborn and was doing his best to keep up with him. They didn't talk much though the silence was comforting to Mulder, he didn't really feel like talking. He knew they're conversation would lead to aliens if he did continue to talk with Willis and he at the moment, besides Scully and Maggie were the only ones that didn't think he was crazy and so he didn't want to clue him in just yet. That could wait.

"This was a strange Thanksgiving for me," Willis said, interrupting the silence. "Not having Bill Sr around but still sitting with his family for a meal...felt a little strange."

Mulder looked deep into his eyes. "Do you think you feel perhaps a little guilty?"

"I do," the elderly man said as he stopped in his tracks to catch his breath. "I don't think Bill Sr. would be upset with me for liking Maggie though...I always thought she was beautiful...those Scully women tend to be beautiful..."

"Yes they are!", Mulder quickly added.

"My wife was equally beautiful and we both admired our luck at finding them. I guess I just miss him, that's all. The whole affair just reminded me of my wife and son and of Bill Sr. and Missy...It was lovely though."

Mulder nodded that he understood. His entire family was gone but he only really felt the lost when he was with Scully's family. His family never loved each other as much as the Scully clan did. He was envious of that family closeness. But he was grateful that he could have Scully by his side. But being with the Scully Family on Thanksgiving also made him think of one person that wasn't there...his son. He knew Scully was feeling the same way. He wished that William could join his cousins at the table...That instead of looking over to Matthew, he could see his own son sitting there, happy, healthy and see the contentment and joy in the eyes of Dana Scully.

"Where's your son, if you don't mind me asking?", the Captain spoke.

"He was adopted," Mulder said, looking down at his hands.

"I'm sorry...I'm sure it was a difficult decision for you both," the elderly man said, placing a hand on Mulder's shoulder.

"It was," he said sadly.

"Well, now, let's get back before we get all depressed. Let's go piss off Bill Jr. again. He doesn't realize that when he gets mad he looks just like his dad and it makes me smile to see that. Of course, that's our little secret," Willis smiled.

Mulder twisted his lips in laughter. "A secret for sure..."

"Plus we've got beautiful women waiting on us, don't we?"

"Yes, we do!", he smiled.

When they returned, the women had cleaned up and Maggie retreated with Willis to the sun-room while Jill and Tara chatted on upstairs talking about the various shops they visited in their city in California which left Scully and Mulder alone. He grabbed her hand and her coat and pulled her out into the brisk November air. "I was just walking with Willis but I really do need to walk this food off or you might have to carry me back home tonight," he smiled.

"Fat chance that will ever happen," she laughed, sliding her hand in his and walking past the orange, yellow and reddish leaves that doted the sidewalks.

He swung his hands as they walked and briefly kissed her knuckles turning to gaze at her as he always did. "You know...that Willis guy seems like a good guy for your mom, Scully..."

"Really?", she said, surprised. "What makes you think that?"

"He really respected your dad...and he respects your mom. He thinks she's beautiful..."

Scully's smile broadened and she stared into his eyes. "He does..."

"Yes...Even if they just remain friends...he'd be good for her, you know," he said, kissing her hand again. "Between them they can keep the memory of your dad, your sister and his wife and son alive...they could reminisce. I do think it was a little awkward for him though..."

"Why?", she said alarmed.

He stopped in his tracks. "Well, because the last time he spent the holiday with your family, your dad was there...but I think once they get over that everything will be fine...I have a good feeling about him."

"So I shouldn't worry and maybe tell Bill and Charles to back off."

"Yeah," he nodded. "Oh, but if that would only work with you telling Bill to back off of me..."

"I have," she said, tightening her grip on his hand. "He won't...oh and whats with you dumping Jello and Whipped cream on Matthew?"

"Your mom told you that?", he said with his panicked face.

"She didn't have too," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Mulder, he's clumsy, not vicious...Bill was the same way at that age. His equilibrium is off!"

"I know," he said with a high pitched voice. He knew immediately she knew he was lying.

"Mulder...", she said, yanking his arm.

"Okay, okay...So I evened the score...no harm was done..."

"Would you have done that to William?", she said, getting more serious.

"Actually I would," he smiled. "Your never too old to throw food, Scully..."

She shook her head and pursed her lips and then smiled back at him. "Thank goodness Bill didn't notice..."

"Yeah, thank goodness..."

He stopped in his tracks and then pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head into the warmth of his coat. "Are you glad we came?", he said, smoothing her hair.

"I am...We have a long drive back home though...after eating Turkey, the both of us...We might fall asleep half way there."

"We need coffee," he smiled.

"Your right, you know," she said, pushing away so she could look up into his eyes. "We don't have much time left...I'm glad we have this memory."

"I believe we will prevail," he said, pulling her gently with him as they strolled down the street. "I wouldn't give up on us...or William..."

"I never would," she smiled. "I never would..."

He bent down and kissed her firmly on the lips. "No sex police here right now."

"No it isn't," she said, "Come on let's go get that coffee, so we can drive back home...We'll be back here in just a month..."

"To enjoy your family with all the..."

"Pleasure? Or pain?", she said finishing his sentence.

His face lit up. "Ah...a little of both, I'd say Scully...but isn't that what Thanksgiving's about?"

She stood on her tip-toes to kiss him again. "I thought it was all about the turkey legs, Mulder..."

"Let's leave Bill out of this," he joked.

She pinched his arm and he yelled slightly as they walked back towards the house. Maggie sipped on her coffee, sitting next to Willis. She smiled at the sight of her daughter and Mulder and then turned back to Willis. He reached out and held her hand and she felt a tingle move through her for the first time since she fell for Bill Sr. so many years ago. They sat in silence looking out at the view around them, the falling of leaves as the wind picked it up and carried it off to some unknown place.

The End

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