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Title: Next Year Summary: Just some Scully missing some Mulder. Feedback: Welcomed at SissaSpooky79@excite.com. This is my first fanfic, so be gentle! Okay, you can spank me around a little, if you please. Author's Notes at the end. "We wish you a Merry Christmas, we WISH you a Merry Christmas, we *WISH* you a Merr--" Oh, for the love of all that is holy. Will these people *please* put another CD on? "Miss? Would you like to try our new fragrance from--" "No. Thank you," Scully politely interrupts the eager saleswoman as she slightly hastens her steps out of the department store."Again," she says under her breath. She is just over the threshold that opens into the mall when she hears, "Oh! Isn't he precious?!" Scully hangs her head slightly to the left and takes a deep, controlled breath as a woman about her age practically jogs over to William's stroller, bringing Scully and baby to a full stop for fear of running the woman over. Hey. Now that I think about it ... "He's just adorable! What's his name?" Scully smiles. "Thank you. William." "That's a strong name," the woman replies to Will in a high-pitched voice. Will just stares at her, seemingly fascinated. She glances at Scully. "After his father?" Doh. Any other day. Any other day, Scully would be happy to be reminded about Will's father. Any other day, she would smile in a way that would make Mona Lisa proud and take two seconds to flashback to a moment in her and Mulder's past and cherish it. It was enough to have him alive and know he was out there somewhere, that he was still tangible even if he was miles and miles away. He was walking. He was breathing. He was somewhere loving her. She knew that and was grateful just to know that. She just didn't want to be reminded again today. Not the day that she spent Christmas shopping in a mall and seeing dozens of couples buying presents for their children ... together. "Uh, no," was all she could manage. The woman was back to staring at Will. "I just can't believe it," the woman says slightly above a whisper. "Excuse me?" "Oh, sorry. I found out earlier today that I'm pregnant," the woman proudly explains with that familiar twinkle in her eyes and a gleeful chuckle. "I haven't even told my husband yet. I wanted to wait until tomorrow. It's our anniversary. I can't believe we're going to have one of our own. We've been trying for three years!" She looks back at Will. "And now we're blessed." Scully notices tears forming in the woman's eyes. "Oh, wow. Look at me," the she says embarrassingly wiping at her face, her hand resting to cup her chin. "That's wonderful. Best wishes to you both," Scully says with a smile and a slight nod. Please. I truly am happy for you, but may I go now? "Thank you, and you too! Bye bye, William. Merry Christmas!" The woman walks away now deep in her own thoughts. Scully begins walking again with a few of her own. I hate this. I hate being bitter. I have a son. My bah!humbug! attitude should be out the window this year. But it's not. I have my son, but I don't have my family together, and it's Christmas. She stops at the window of a store that reeks of potpourri to look over a display of snow globes. One in particular catches her eye. The detail is exquisite, but that's not what draws her attention. A man, a woman and a child are building a snowman. The child is holding a carrot as the man lifts him up to put it on. The woman holds the coal for the eyes in her hands. Both are engrossed in the child. All three are smiling. All three are together. Stop it. She sighs. One day this will all be over. Until then, I'll walk. I'll breathe. I'll love Mulder. Will chooses that moment to let out a shriek. Scully quickly steps around the stroller to put the pacifier back in his mouth. Soothed, he looks at his mother affectionately before his eyes get weary and begin to close. Scully softly brushes his cheek a few times before he sighs and drifts off. Scully could swear she smelled Mulder when he sighed. It was enough for her to lift her head to the passers-by, searching the crowd out of instinct. Nothing. Oh, Mulder. Hurry home. She begins walking again. After an hour more of store-hopping, Scully packs Will into the car and heads home. Opening the door to her apartment, she sighs as she plops the bags on the couch and eases Will into his crib. He stirs but does not wake. As she brings the bags to the kitchen counter and begins unloading the contents, the phone rings. Scully hurries to catch it before it wakes the baby. "Hello?" "Hi, sweetie!" "Hi, Mom." "Did you go shopping today?" "Yeah, we just got back." Scully reaches on her tiptoes to glance at Will in the crib. Out cold. "How's little William?" "He's fine. He's sleeping." She goes back to the counter to empty the bags of the gifts she bought. "Oh, the phone didn't wake him?" "No. He's beat. He was so fascinated by all of the Christmas lights and decorations that he hasn't napped since this morning." "That's good. I'm so glad you went out, Dana. I think it was good for you." "Mom, I'm not a recluse. I just--" "I know, honey. It's hard. Christmas is hard." Scully sighs into the phone. Each year around this time Mrs. Scully goes through a short period of quiet mourning for her husband. It gets better every year, and it ends by Christmas Day when "the children" come together to celebrate. "How are *you*, Mom?" "I'm fine." Scully smiles knowingly. "No, you're not." I miss you, Mulder. Scully could feel her mother's smile. "Yes, I am." Pause. Scully sighs again. "Okay. I love you." "I love you too, honey. I'll let you go." "Okay, Mom. I'll call you later." "Bye. Give William a kiss from Grandma." "I will. I promise. Bye." As soon as she says those last words, an object in one of the bags she had just opened draws her attention. She didn't remember getting anything that came in a white box. Great. A mix up. Now I have to go back. Yee ha. She opens the box and sifts through the white wrapping that covers the object. Her mouth forms an "o" and her eyebrows slowly shoot up as she pulls out the snow globe. The world stops. All that exist are Scully and shock. Then, it all floods her. That smell. Will's sigh. Wasn't Will. It was him. He was there. He was *there*. He was watching. He saw Will. A single tear makes its way down Scully's cheek. When was the last time she smiled this big? When she turns the globe over to upset the snow, she sees a message in Mulder's distinct handwriting: "Next year. -M" -End- "The world didn't end." -Mulder ("Millennium") Thanks to all of the talented fanfic writers who exponentially add to my enjoyment of the show. And to you for reading, of course. Happy Holidays!
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