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Title: It's a Wonderful Life Summary - My version of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, via the X-Files. Mulder gets over his holiday blues with some very familiar ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Dedication - To Sherin, who makes me feel normal. Thank you for being one of my best friends. MERRY CHRISTMAS! - Happy holidays, happy vacation, happy winter, whatever. You know what you could get me for X-Mas? A full e-mailbox! Please? Write me. December 24, 1995 "God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay. The carol blasted through the department store, giving Fox Mulder a headache. Stumbling over a small toddler, he made his way through the harried crowd towards jewelry. "I have heard this song at least ten times today. Do we really want to give Perry Como or John Denver any more money?" He shook his head. "There IS such a thing as real music, you know." You're being a real scrooge. Mulder remembered the words of his partner Dana Scully. It's Christmas Eve and you're working. You won't come home with me for the holidays, and you won't go to your mother's. What's with you? He knew what was the matter. Another Christmas, another year without Samantha. It always hurt, but this year was worse. His father and Melissa Scully were dead, all casualties in his overwhelming search for the truth. How could he celebrate a holiday that symbolized hope and faith in miracles when he had neither? Mulder sighed. Well, if YOU can't enjoy Christmas, Scully can. After her lecture that morning, he kicked her out of the office, claiming that he didn't need any advice from a woman whose life was as messed up as his. He didn't mean it, but it was what he always did - he took the offensive. She walked out, shoulders slumped, head bent. Now he was trying to make it up to her in the only way he knew how - with an expensive present. "Excuse me." He caught the jewelry attendant's eye. "How may I help you, sir?" "I'm looking for a present for a friend of mine." She suddenly looked interested. "What KIND of friend?" "She's my work partner and my best friend. I said something REALLY stupid, and I want to get her something nice to make it up to her. What do you suggest?" "Well, that depends. Does she like diamonds?" "I don't know." "What's her birthstone?" "Don't know." "Is there anything you DO know?" "She has blue eyes and red hair." The saleswoman sighed with relief. "Now there's a start. Sapphires would be good. What would you like to give her? Earrings? Bracelet? Ring?" "A ring." Motioning for him to follow, she made her way to the other side of the circular display case. "We have a lovely selection of sapphire rings. Are there any here that you would like to see?" Mulder stared intently into the case, mumbling to himself. "Too small, too big, ugly, engagement ring,...Aha! That's the ring." He pointed it out to the woman. It was a simple ring with three stones - a sapphire, emerald, and ruby nestled in a bed of white gold. Perfect. "How much is it?" His cool calm exterior almost broke when the attendant told him the news, but he just nodded and said, "Could I have that wrapped, please?" Scully's worth it. Satisfied with his purchase, Mulder exited the store, thankful for the fact that it wasn't snowing. He started back to the J. Edgar Hoover Building where he left his car. Washington D.C. was awash with lights, lit up with the Christmas cheer. Everywhere Mulder looked he saw wreaths and Santas, Christmas carolers and couples walking to Christmas Eve dinner. "Bah Humbug." Tired and cold, Mulder stopped at his and Scully's bench in front of the Washington Monument. He wished that Scully could be there, wished he didn't have to be so lonely. "C'mon, Mulder. Scully deserves to enjoy the holiday with people that love her, not with a broken down wreck like you." "Is that how you really feel?" The voice came from behind. Mulder whirled around. "Oh my God...It's YOU!" Deep Throat came out from the shadows. "it's good to see you, Mulder." "I thought you were dead. " He was dumbfounded. "I attended your funeral." "Yes, you did." The older man came and sat down on the bench beside him. "I AM dead, Mulder. I'm a ghost." Mulder laughed. "Yeah, right. And I'm Jerry Garcia. How did you get away from the government?" "I'm telling you the truth. Mulder, I regret what I did during my living years. I reigned over government conspiracies. I tricked you and the public into thinking that there were no such things as extra terrestrial beings. In doing so, I lost my family, friends, my reason for living. That cannot happen to you. To ensure that it won't, tonight you will be visited by three spirits. Listen to them, Mulder, and learn." "Okay. And then Clarence is going to show me what it would be like if I had never been born." He grew suspicious of his informant. "Who sent you? What are you trying to do to me?" Mulder grabbed the lapels of the man's trench coat, shaking vigorously. "Tell me, dammit!" "Listen to me, Mulder. The first spirit will come to you on the twelfth stroke of midnight. Pay attention." With that, Deep Throat disappeared, leaving Mulder to grab at thin air. "What happened?" He checked the surrounding area. Nothing. "How could someone just...disappear?" The special agent shook his head, as if to clear the thoughts from his mind. "Deep Throat was never here, Mulder. It was a delusion from your demented brain." Even so, he checked the park once more before heading home. "Wake up, Fox." A gentle nudge interrupted Mulder's fitful sleep. "Not Fox. Mulder." Slowly he came around to see his father hovering over him. "Dad?" William Mulder smiled. "Hello, son. You didn't wait up for me, I see." "Huh?" He shook off the last vestiges of sleep and stared. "What the hell is going on here?" "I believe that your 'Deep Throat' informed you that I was coming. It IS midnight, you know." Suddenly he remembered the strange meeting with his mentor. "So this is all real? Not a joke?" "No. I am the ghost of Christmas Past. For the next hour I am to be your guide through your memories. Are you really going to wear that?" "No sir." He obediently went to change into jeans and a sweater. Just like old times. "There you are." Fox exited the bedroom fifteen minutes later, wearing clean clothes and smelling like Old Spice. "Since you took so long, we'll have to skip the first ten years of your life. NOW are you ready?" Properly chastised, Mulder nodded. "Ready sir. How do we do this? Dickens never explained." Mulder, Senior grabbed his son's hand. "Can't say, Fox. It just happens like...this!" December 25, 1971 The two Mulder's popped up in the middle of their front yard. "Cool. Is there a time travel continuum or something?" Mulder's father gave him a look that he had seen on Scully a number of times. "This is your life, not an X-File. Now before we see what's going on here, let's go over the rules." Fox recited the list by heart. "They can't see or hear us. No talking or touching them. We have to leave when you say so." "Good boy." Bill smiled. "The year is 1971. You and your sister have just awakened to find your Christmas presents under the tree." Fox ran up the hill to the house. "Samantha?" His adult life had been spent chasing his sister. Now he could see her again. He pushed the door opened and entered into the living room. In front of the eight foot Christmas tree sat his younger self and his sister. "Samantha," he whispered, not believing his eyes. "Look, Fox. Santa brought me Malibu Barbie." The brown haired imp raced to her older brother, excitedly holding out her new toy. He took the doll and examined it. "Nice, Sam, but don't you think you're a little too old for Barbies? This is a big kids game." He produced a board game from behind his back. "Stratego. Want me to show you how to play?" Her eyes lit up with happiness. "Will you, Fox?" "Sure." They started to set up the board, oblivious to the visitors in the room. "She's so beautiful." He stared at his little sister, knowing it would be a long time if he ever saw her again. "This was Sam's last Christmas." Fox held back the tears, ashamed to cry in front of his father. "It's okay Fox. Cry. Bottling up your feelings is only going to harm you, not hurt you." His son looked at him in surprise. "I know I wasn't like this when I was alive, but I have learned so much. I'm sorry Fox." "Thank you Dad." The tears fell unashamedly down his face. "Look how happy you were. You looked forward to Christmas. What happened to that holiday spirit?" "It disappeared with Samantha." "Not entirely. Son, it's time for us to go." He tried to take junior's arm, but he refused to move. "Just a few more minutes with Samantha, Dad." "We can't. We only have a half an hour left." He took his son's arm and they disappeared, leaving only the two children playing Stratego. December 25, 1991 "Didn't I just come from here?" Fox Mulder looked around his basement office. He saw himself sitting in front of the computer screen. "Seems like it. It's Christmas Day, 1991, right before you met Agent Scully." "I remember. It was the Jackson case." He searched his memory for details. "I worked through New Years trying to prove her blood matched that found on the victims." "Ignoring everyone else in the process." The phone rang, jarring the youngest Mulder out of his concentration. "Mulder...Hello Mom...Oh yeah, Merry Christmas to you too. I'm sorry I couldn't come up...Yes, I promise to call Dad later. Goodbye." "You never did call." "Sorry." Fox watched his younger self as he took off his glasses and crossed the room to the coffee pot. Fox the second poured himself a cup and saluted to no one in particular. "Merry Christmas, Mulder. To another year without Samantha." He downed the coffee and returned to the computer. His ghost watched the scene in horror. "That's it? Was I that bad?" Bill Mulder smiled sadly. "This year wasn't even your worst, Fox. I figured I couldn't show you watching Playboy, now could I?" He checked his watch. Twelve fifty three. "It's time to go, Fox. I need to get you back by one for the spirit of Christmas Present." Mulder numbly took his hand, afraid of what was in store for him next. Mulder landed on his living room floor. "Dad?" He looked around, unable to see his father. "Dad?" He said it louder this time. "Your father left, Fox. It's just you and me." "Melissa?" He stared at the red-haired woman in front of him. "Yes. Hello, Fox. It's good to see you." "Melissa...are you okay? Scully feels so responsible for your death." "I know Dana's upset. She shouldn't blame herself. It was my time to go. Tell her that for me, will you?" Suddenly teary-eyed, Melissa rubbed her eyes and changed the subject. "Are you ready to go?" "Yep. Where to now, Jeeves?" "Somewhere we both belong." December 25, 1995 "What's going on?" Mulder looked around at the unfamiliar house. "Where are we?" Melissa smiled fondly. "Welcome to the Scully household, Mulder." Mulder had often wondered where Scully grew up. The house was a split ranch, with plenty of rooms for the Irish family. Children ran rampant, finding ornaments for the trimming of the Christmas tree. "Where's Scully?" "They are ALL Scullys, Mulder. Dana's over there in the kitchen." He followed her gaze. There stood Scully, wearing the same suit she had worn that morning. Her stare was blank as she watched her nieces and nephews. "Scully?" he said, then remembered she couldn't see or hear him. He turned to her sister. "What's the matter with Dana?" "What you said hurt her deeply, Mulder. You're her best friend, and she was only trying to help you and herself. This is the first holiday since I died. She needed you, and you shot her down." "I didn't mean to. I bought her a present..." Mulder tried to cover his mistakes. "I saw it. Very nice, but don't you think it would mean more to her if you were there with her?" "I never thought..." "No you didn't." They watched as Margaret Scully came over to Dana. "Are you okay, honey?" Dana went willingly into her mother's arms. "I asked Mulder to join us but he said no." Sadness passed across Margaret's face. Fox Mulder had become a great friend to her daughter and to her. She wished he would do what was best for all involved and join them for Christmas. Meg stroked her daughter's hair. "Why don't I call him tomorrow and ask again? We both know I've got the boy wrapped around my little finger." Both mother and daughter smiled at that. "Well, you ARE the only one he lets call him Fox..." The two walked away laughing, leaving Melissa and Fox behind. "I didn't mean to hurt her." "I know, Mulder, but you did. You keep feeling sorry for yourself, thinking of the things you've lost, but what about what you've gained: Dana. She's your best friend, partner, someone you trust and someone who listens to you. Hell, you've even been adopted by her family. Yet you keep pushing her away. If you keep throwing it away it will be gone forever." Melissa watched as Mulder took in her speech. He was new at this caring thing. He just needed a push in the right direction. "Can we go back now, Melissa? I think I have to call Dana." "That's the spirit!" She frowned. "Unfortunately, you can't. We have one more stop, and then the Ghost of Christmas Future will be picking you up at two." "Well, I hope he brings flowers," answered Mulder as the two left the happy household. December 25, 1995 "What? Are we in hell?" Mulder looked at the motel room in obvious disgust. "This is worse than any place Scully and I have ever stayed in. Why are we here?" "To visit an old friend of yours." As if on cue Cancerman exited the bathroom and sat in front of the television. With a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of scotch in the other, he watched Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. "What are you trying to do, get me out of the Christmas spirit?" Mulder shielded his eyes, not wanting to see the horrific sight. Gently Melissa pulled his hand away from his eyes, pointing at Cancerman. "Do you see that, Mulder? That could be you. If you keep pushing away the ones that love you, if you keep obsessing about work, if-" "IF, IF, IF!" Mulder couldn't bear the thought of turning into his enemy. "I won't do it anymore. I'll be good, I swear. Please, just let me go now. Please?" "Yes, Fox." The scene disappeared and once again Mulder found himself in his apartment. December 25, 1998 "Where am I?" Mulder pulled himself off of the damp earth. "This is definitely NOT my apartment." Turning, he faced Scully kneeling beside his grave. "I can't believe it's been two years, Mulder." She brushed the dirt off the tombstone. Mulder moved to comfort her, but then remembered he was a ghost. "I never able to tell you this when you were alive, Mulder, but I love you. I've loved you since I woke up in a coma to find you waiting there for me. I kept waiting for the right time to tell you, but you kept pushing me away. You could never love me if you didn't allow yourself to feel anything but pain. In fact, I think that taking the Thompson case was a way of insuring your death, so you could leave in pain." "Scully, I didn't know you feel that way-" She kept talking. "After your death, I took over the X-Files. I followed your search for the truth - I owed you as much. I even got a nickname. 'Doctor Spooky.'" Her laugh was hallow. "I fought Cancerman and the government, and I did it, Mulder. I found out what happened to me those three months. I found proof of the existence of extra-terrestrials. I found Samantha." "Hello Fox." A woman showed herself to Mulder. She was unmistakably his sister - the brown hair, brown eyes, Mulder grin. The weariness in her eyes and the unsteady gait of her walk were the only leftovers of her abduction. "I've come back, Fox. Dana found me in a government holding camp for UFO survivors. When they returned me about five years ago, I couldn't say a word. I was catatonic for almost three years. I had no memory or memories. Slowly I regained my motor functions, my voice. Then, last year I started to remember. I remembered you, Fox. Soon after that, Dana found me. She got me out of the camp and took me into her house. You and I are lucky to have a friend like her." A single tear rolled down her cheek. "Why couldn't you have lived for another year? Why couldn't I see you again?" She broke down, sobbing. Scully rushed over to her and gathered her in her arms. They sat there crying, while Mulder's heart was breaking. Once the catharsis was over, they got up to leave. "Thank you for believing in me, Fox, for never giving up. I'm in college now, and once I graduate I am joining the F.B.I. Director Skinner has offered me a position with Dana in the X-files. I'll do my best to make you proud of me." She walked away, leaving Scully at the grave. "She's a great woman, Mulder. She still can't remember the abduction, but she's trying to. I tell her about you, about the x-files, about the cases you investigated. She's going to make a great agent. Can you believe it? It's going to be Mulder and Scully again. But it won't be the same, Mulder. Never." She placed a rose in front of the tombstone that read "Fox William Mulder 1961-1997 Brother, Friend, Seeker of Truths." "I love you, Fox Mulder." "I love you too." The cemetery was silent as Dana left him. "How could I have been so obtuse? Have I been so involved in myself and my search as to shut everyone else out?" "Yes." William Mulder and Melissa Scully suddenly appeared before him. "Why did you show this to me?" "Son, you're in a place in your life where you can choose your path." Melissa interjected, "We wanted you to see how things REALLY are, not the way they seem to you." "So what should I do? If my future is going to end this way I can't change it." "That's not true. This is only an estimation of what might happen if you keep traveling on the same track you are on now. No future is set in stone, Fox. You can always change." The words of wisdom broke through to Mulder. "When can I go home?" "Right now." Melissa and Bill smiled at one another. "We'll be watching you, Mulder. Good luck!" The spirits disappeared, leaving Mulder in a vortex of time spinning towards 1995. December 25, 1995 Slowly Mulder woke up from the deep sleep. "Whoa. What a weird dream." He moved to a sitting position on the sofa. "Ouch!" Grimacing, he pulled a book from underneath him. "I don't remember reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer lately." Intrigued, he opened the book, finding an inscription. "Dear Fox, You see, it really IS a wonderful life!!! Don't forget it! Love, Dad and Melissa" "Dad and Melissa have been watching too many old movies." He began to pace. "It wasn't a dream, it wasn't a dream." He stopped. "I've got to get over to Scully's." Rushing into the bathroom, Mulder stopped to stare at the leather bound book. "Thank you." Norfolk, Virginia "Dana, honey, could you get the door?" "Sure, Mom." Scully put down the nephew she was holding and opened the door. "Mulder!" "Hi Scully." She gaped in wonder as he entered the foyer. "Merry Christmas." Stepping past her he made his way into the living room. "Good morning, Margaret. Happy Holidays." "Fox!" Meg blushed as he kissed her cheek. "These are for you." He pulled a bouquet of flowers from his many packages. "Thank you for inviting me. I needed to be with family." "You are always welcome here, Fox. Don't ever forget it." She smiled joyously. "You must be hungry. Can I get you something to eat?" "That would be great, thanks. Let me just hang up my coat." Meg headed towards the kitchen, leaving Mulder and Scully alone. "What made you change your mind, Mulder? Dana watched as he shrugged his coat off and put it on a hanger. "Let's just say I had some visitors that helped me change my mind. Here," he said, quickly changing the subject. "I hope you like it." She took the gaily wrapped package like it was a snake. "Is it safe to open?" He laughed. "I would think so." He watched as she tore the wrappings off and opened the jewelry box. "Mulder, it's...beautiful." She stared at the expensive ring. Mulder placed the ring on her right hand. "You shouldn't have." "There is nothing I wouldn't do for you, Scully." They gazed into one another's eyes until Dana's eight-year-old nephew interrupted them. "Auntie Dana, Auntie Dana!" Scully reluctantly tore her eyes away from Mulder. "What is it, Sean?" His grin was one of pure mischief. "You're standing under the mistletoe. Doesn't that mean you have to kiss?" Embarrassed beyond belief, Scully let Mulder answer. "You're absolutely right." Before she knew it, Dana was in Mulder's arms. "Merry Christmas, Dana." He kissed her, putting all of his feelings into the one embrace. As she responded to him, Mulder knew his father and Melissa were right. It was a wonderful life. The End
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