A/N: Holy Crap, it's chapter 9! Okay I am writing this cause I got my 50th review, which makes me very, very happy. And Andrea was my 50th review so she's gonna get some cookies, if I get around to it :]. She also helped me come up with some amazing ideas. So keep watching cause they'll be evolving in the next few chapters!

Dedication: To Andrea! and I can't exclude Lily, Brittney & Ashley either. And to all you guys who keep reading. LOVE YOU!

Disclaimer: Naht mine, oh fugglenutz

It was Christmas morning and the Scully house was oddly still. Bill was at Annapolis and wouldn't be home until the following day and Melissa had opted to stay at Boston Bay for her break. Mr. Scully had arrived home yesterday and the entire family was so excited that they had stayed up late and were still tired that morning.

"Dana?" Charlie Scully pulled back the covers and climbed into his big sisters bed.

"What is it Charlie?" Scully rolled over and forced her eyes open.

"Can you take me to Spring Street?" Charlie asked.

"Why?" Scully asked as she wrapped the blankets tightly around them.

"Cause I wanna take Luke the Christmas present I got him." Charlie said and Dana nodded, "Meet me downstairs when you're dressed?" Dana nodded again. Charlie climbed out of the bed and left the room.

Scully sighed, throwing back the covers, she wore red pajama pants and a long sleeve pink shirt that was layered with a red tee-shirt. She sighed, pulling on her converse and grabbing Mulder's bomber jacket, she wrapped it around her tightly. She grabbed her keys and went downstairs, "Let's go Charlie." She said softly

Charlie nodded and took Dana's hand, they walked outside in the nearly negative cold. Spring Street was just two roads over from their house and down three blocks, so the walk took no time at all. Luke's burial plot stood out since it was still a mound of dirt, but frosted over with snow. Scully stood a few feet away and let Charlie have his time. Charlie placed a toy racecar on the grave, stood silently for a few moment and turned back to Dana, "Okay."

"Alright Bub, let's go home." Scully said and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

"Isn't that Mulder's truck?" Charlie asked, pointing to a truck parked on the back row.

"Yeah. Come on." Scully said and lead the way through the cemetery till she reached Mulder's truck, "Wait here." She told him and walked around the truck. She sighed when she saw Mulder, kneeling by his sisters tombstone. She walked forward and knelt beside him, "Mulder." She said softly and rested a hand on his back.

"Scully." Mulder said softly, his eyes were red and puffy and he had a bruise forming on his cheek.

"Mulder, what happened?" Scully asked as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"My Dad and I got into it." Mulder shrugged.

"He hit you again?" Scully asked and Mulder nodded. Scully wrapped her arms around him tightly, "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." He said and held her, just as much as she held him.

"Come back to my house." Scully said and stood up, taking his hand.

"I don't want to intrude on family time."

"Bill's the only one coming home and he won't be here till tomorrow. So come on." Scully pulled him up.

"Morning Mulder." Charlie piped up.

"Morning Charlie." Mulder smiled and ruffled Charlie's hair, "Get in." He said and nodded his head towards the truck. They all climbed in and Mulder drove the short distance back to the Scully house. Charlie raced back inside and Mulder and Scully took their time, Mulder took Scully's hand in his as they meandered back inside.

"I've missed you." He whispered as he pulled her close to his side.

"I missed you too. I should of never let you go home." Scully said and frowned when she saw his face.

"I'm fine. I gave just as good as I got." Mulder promised her.

"You're staying here. I don't care what anyone says. You're not going home while he's there." Scully said and bit her lip, hoping he wouldn't argue, "Please Mulder, for me."

"Okay Scully. For you." Mulder said and kissed the top of her head.

"Fox!" Mrs. Scully flew down the stairs as the teenagers stepped inside, "Charlie said you were hurt, what happened?"

Scully gave him a look as she slid off her shoes and took off her coat, "His Dad."

"Scully." Mulder let out a breath, but he knew there was no denying it.

"Your father did this?" Mrs. Scully asked and lead Mulder into the kitchen and grabbed the first aid kit off the top of the fridge.

"I'm fine Mrs. Scully. He was drunk. It's okay." Mulder said, "He leaves again in a few days anyway." Mrs. Scully bandaged the cut from Mr. Mulder's wedding band and looked at him.

"You'll stay here till he leaves. William and I won't have it any other way." Mrs. Scully told him.

"Yes ma'am." Mulder gave the woman a smile and a hug.

"Now you two, go have fun. I'll make us some breakfast and then we can open presents." Mrs. Scully shooed them away.

Scully raced up stairs to take a shower and get dressed for the day and Mulder went to watch the news with Mr. Scully.

"Fox are you alright?" Mr. Scully asked, setting the paper aside.

"Yes sir. I gave just as good as I got." Mulder told him.

"Well you'll be bunking up with Charlie till he leaves, you hear me?" Mr. Scully asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes sir. I appreciate that." Mulder nodded.

"Alright then. Merry Christmas." Mr. Scully said and Mulder nodded, he got up from the couch and walked upstairs. Mr. Scully was enraptured with the news and Mrs. Scully was helping Charlie make pancakes, so he snuck upstairs and into the bathroom where Scully stood, wrapped in a towel. He locked the door behind him and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Mulder!" Scully said and let out a sigh.

"I haven't seen you in two whole days. I am going nuts Miss Dana." Mulder spun her around and pinned her wrists against the wall, her towel slipping as he began to kiss her.

"Mulder, I love you, but my parents are right down stairs." Scully reminded him and Mulder sighed, taking a deep breath, he rested his head against her shoulder.

"Sorry." He said as he steadied himself.

"Hey." Scully took his hand, "Don't ever apologize for kissing me Mister."

"Alright." Mulder smiled and kissed her lightly, "I'll meet you in your room, once your clothed." Mulder slipped out of the room.

Scully came in a few minutes later in jeans and his basketball hoodie, barefoot, no make up and her hair was curly and unbrushed. She walked over to the bed and sat down in front of him, "Why were you at the gravesite Mulder? You haven't been there since the service."

"It's been five years Scully." Mulder said and looked down at his feet.

"Mulder, don't you dare give up hope now." Scully said and took his hands in hers, "Cause she's out there Mulder and not below the ground."

"How can you be so sure?" Mulder asked.

"Cause God and I made a deal a long time ago." Scully explained, "There's no going back on that."

"You're one in five billion Dana Katherine. My one in five billion." Mulder said and brought her left hand to his lips, kissing her palm.

"I love you Mulder." Scully said and leaned forward kissing him lightly.

"Scully?"

"What is it Mulder?" Scully asked, looking up at him through her eye lashes.

"Can I brush your hair?"

"If you really want to?" Scully asked and Mulder nodded. She grabbed the brush from her nightstand and then sat between his legs on the floor. Mulder started at the bottom of her hair and worked his way up, gently, lovingly brushing out the knots, trying not to cause her any pain. It took him nearly a half hour, but when he was done there wasn't a knot left in her hair. He kissed the top of her head and breathed in the toasted sugar smell of her shampoo.

"You're really good at that." Scully said and turned, so she was on her knee's her elbows resting on his legs and her hands supporting her chin.

"I'd never do that for anyone else." Mulder explained as he traced a finger over her jaw line.

"Guys! Breakfast!" Mrs. Scully hollered up the stairs as Scully's stomach growled.

"C'mon Scully, let's go get you fed." Mulder stood up and pulled Scully up. They held hands as they entered the kitchen, Mulder pull her chair out for her and Mr. and Mrs. Scully shared a look. They loved that Mulder adored their daughter and did little things for her, like give her his coat and class ring, and pulled out her chair for her. The Scully's definitely approved of the change in the teenager's relationship.

After a breakfast of pancakes and sausage, it was time for presents and they had even bought some for Mulder. "I'll be right back. I actually have your guys' presents in the truck." Mulder explained and ran outside. Coming back in with two Target bags full of wrapped gifts. They all sat around the tree and opened them.

Mulder and Scully had each gotten gift certificates from clothing stores in the mall from the Scully's and Charlie had Dana a new journal and pens and Mulder a Knicks jersey. All that was left was Mulder and Scully's present's for each other.

"Your Mom helped me with yours." Mulder said and awkwardly handed her a long flat box. Scully gave him a look and then tore into the wrapping. She opened the box and gasped when she saw a frame made of silver metal and decorated with purple rhinestones, in the frame was a picture of five year old Mulder and four year old Scully taking a nap next to each other on the couch.

"It's perfect." Scully said and hugged it to her chest, she then held out a long flat package and Mulder accepted it. He opened it up and smiled when he saw that it was a dog tag, like you could buy in one of those machines at Wal-mart. On one side was their full names and on the other side was the date they had gotten together. Mulder smiled and slipped the chain over his neck, Scully leaned over and kissed him lightly.

"EWWW" Charlie said and scrunched up his nose, hiding his face behind the 'Hulk' glove Mulder had gotten him. The whole family laughed and Mr. Scully turned on the television, placing it on TBS and the twenty-four hour marathon of 'A Christmas Story'. Mrs. And Mr. Scully sat on the couch and Charlie stretched out between then, his early morning Christmas high wearing off. Mulder and Scully got up off the floor and took the only other available seat, the barcalounger. Mulder sat in the chair and reclined it. Scully climbed in beside her and Mulder wrapped his arms around her, her head resting on his chest.

"Let's go for a walk." Mulder said as the movie began to play for a third time, "Cause if I have to watch this again, I am going to shoot MY eye out." Scully chuckled and nodded. They both climbed out of the chair.

"Be back by five." Mrs. Scully called from the kitchen where she was making dinner.

"Yes Ma'am." They both said as they slipped on their shoes and coats. They walked towards the center of town, the town was almost dead due to the fact that most everywhere was closed for the holiday.

"I love Jasper Hollow this time of year. If only it could look like this and not be so cold." Scully said as they stood on the sidewalk, starring up at the limestone made Courthouse.

"I know." Mulder smiled as they walked around the square hand in hand.

"Hey guys!" A Blazer pulled up beside him.

"Hey John." They both said and gave him a sad smile.

"Watchya up to?" John asked, trying to keep things as normal as possible.

"Pre-dinner walk." Scully explained.

"Where you off too?" Mulder asked, though he already knew.

"Monica's." John explained, "I couldn't stay home any longer."

"Well if you need a place to runaway to, I think the Scully's are gonna open up a Youth Hostel here soon." Mulder said sarcastically and Scully laughed.

"Noted." John remarked.

"Hey isn't Mon's appointment in the City tomorrow?" Scully asked.

"Yeah."

"Did you get work off?" Scully asked giving him a look.

"No, but they can kiss my grits." John said and gave her a look right back.

"Good. Tell Mon and her family Merry Christmas from us." Mulder said and John nodded, driving off.

"That's crazy." Scully sighed as John vanished around a corner, "I'm proud of them though."

"Yeah, I know." Mulder said and held Scully's hand as she climbed up and balanced on the edge of the sidewalk.

"Do you think we'll have kids someday?" Scully looked down at him from the ledge.

"I hope so. When we're married or at least living together somewhere." Mulder said and looked at her.

"Me too." Scully smiled.

"You're gonna make a great mom someday." Mulder told her.

"You're gonna make a great dad someday." Scully said, "I see how you are with Charlie."

"Thank you." Mulder said and glanced at his watch, "Crap, we need to head back."

Mulder and Scully raced back down the street and entered the Scully house at 5:01 out of breath as they took off their shoes. Mrs. Scully was placing dinner on the table, Mr. Scully was asleep on the couch and Charlie sat playing with his new matchbox race track.

"Do you need any help?" Dana asked her mother who shook her head. The teenagers went to the bathroom and washed their hands before returning to the kitchen where the family now congregated for dinner. Dinner was simple, since most of the family was gone. After dinner Mulder and Scully sat on the couch, watching Frank Capra's 'It's A Wonderful Life', Mrs. Scully was cleaning up the kitchen and Mr. Scully had retired to his den to get some paperwork done before he had to leave again.

"Will you guys play with me?" Charlie pouted slightly.

"Charlie the movie is almost over. We'll totally play with you then." Scully told him.

"Alright." Charlie sighed and stomped off.

Mulder chuckled, "You know he worships the ground you walk on."

"Yeah I know." Scully smiled and played with Mulder's class ring that was around her neck.

"I can feel you thinking." Mulder whispered in her ear.

"Sorry. I was just thinking about what it must feel like to lose a best friend. Especially when you're nine. I mean, when you're nine, you're world isn't much bigger than the adventures you have at recess with your best friends. Charlie and Luke had a lot of adventures." Scully explained, she didn't like that she kept getting hung up on Luke dying, but she couldn't shake it.

"Yeah, but on the other hand, he's younger and he's more resilient. He'll bounce back quicker." Mulder said, "He's gonna be okay."

"Yeah. I guess, I just keep realizing how lucky I am." Scully explained, "I have a boyfriend who loves me. I've never lost a parent or a sibling or a best friend. I've never been abused. My family isn't poor. I've got all the love in the world. I just wish I was more grateful for it."

"I think you are grateful for it, or otherwise you wouldn't realize that." Mulder explained and Scully nodded.

That night while Charlie slept, Mulder crept over to Scully's room, pulling back the covers, he slid in next to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, even though he had come to blows with his dad, he still ended up with the love of his life, all in all, Christmas hadn't been so bad.

A/N: So there it is :] chapter 9. Hope you like it and it wasn't too much of a downer. You'll see. It's all leading up to something huge. Bigger than big. Well let me know what you think! I can't read your minds, I'm not Alice Cullen, so leave some reviews!