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Title: A Season of Giving Summary: After the X-Files had been closed for nearly three years, Fox Mulder makes a decision that changes his life, by what he found out on Christmas Eve. Author's notes: Hi folks! I got the idea to this one while reading a Christmas story and decorating the tree. I finally wanted a story with happy end, so I thought it should be sad at the beginning. And again a story is dedicated to my friends. This time I'm jealous, 'cause they have snow on Christmas, and I have 79 degrees outside. What would I give for snow right this moment in always hot Florida! But I don't want to bother you any longer, so just go on! Fox Mulder's apartment It was Christmas Eve. Again. But it actually didn't mind for him. He was alone. Again. As always. And how often he would remember that lonely night. The night that had destroyed everything. Actually he had no right to blame him, he hadn't led her down. Like she had. Three years ago, on holy evening, Fox Mulder had walked over to visit his partner Dana Scully. He had known that she had been alone this night and had wanted to make her happy, somehow. Yeah, he had somehow even managed to show her his feelings. Jeez had he loved her, he still did. Didn't mind though. They had been so in passion, had desired each other so much that they finally had slept with each other. What had been planned to be a nice evening, had turned out to be a really joyful night. It had been, till next morning, or better next day, when Skinner had phoned and told them that the X-Files would be shut down. No reason. No why. Mulder had been, as suspected, furious. He had known why: because they had slept with each other. Somehow they had found out, and now turned it down at them. Scully had been sent back to Quantico and he back to the VCs. Boring. And he had missed her. After that night, they never had seen each other again. He didn't even know if she was still alive. She probably was, her mother would have phoned him if...He sighed and stood up. He didn't know if she still lived at her old place, but he was sure that she didn't. He didn't know anything about her now. It was sad. And he missed her so badly. He didn't know why she had turned him down. She had been the one who had disappeared mysteriously into thin air. She had never phoned him, written him or seen him again. But it was the 24th of December and she probably was at her mother's. He still loved her, more than his own life. Okay, that wasn't actually difficult. He wanted to see her, wanted to say hello, wanted to know what she had done the years. He couldn't. Why now, after three years? Okay, he had missed her all the years before, not only at Christmas Eve. But he couldn't just go to her mother's and look if she was there. It was family. Her family. What if she had family? 'A husband, kids? <i>Nope. Not Scully. She's known as the Ice Queen! At least that's what I hope!</i> he told himself and sighed again. He knew that her mother had moved. She had re-married to a nice guy in his sixties. Some Marine guy. He knew it, because his new partner at the VCs was the son of Richard Smith, the new husband of Margaret Scully. Of course Mark Smith, Mulder's partner, had been at the wedding, but Mulder had been just too shy to ask the guy if Scully had been there too and how she did. What a jerk he was! But he knew Maggie's new address. Mark had told him. At first he didn't recognize when the phone rang, but then he jumped up and pressed the On button. "Mulder?" he asked. "Hi partner!" a male voice said. The guy's voice sounded young, happy. It was Mark Smith. "Hi Mark!" Mulder replied. <i>Speaking of the devil!</i> he thought, but it brought a slight smile onto his face. "I don't know if you lonely guy want to do something on Christmas Eve, but I thought that you don't mind if I invite you to a great Christmas dinner at my dad's!" Mulder swallowed. Just what he needed. There was the offer, he could easily take it. "Who else will be coming?" he finally asked, wanted to be sure. He hoped that she wouldn't come, but somehow hoped she would. "Er, why do you ask? I think the whole family. We wanted it to be big Christmas this time, so we've invited the whole family. The family on my father's side and on my stepmother's side. She has a lot of kids, you have to know them. They are really nice. " Mark didn't know that Mulder had worked with Scully. He hesitated. <i>I can't do that! What if she don't want to see me!</i> "Okay, at what time?" he asked, couldn't believe that he had done it. "Oh, I'll come over and pick you up at 6:30. You still have plenty of time. See you partner!" "You're welcome, partner!" Mark hung up. Mulder was nervous. Just too nervous. He didn't know what to wear, what to say. He was walking around in his small apartment for at least half an hour. Mulder didn't know what to give to the host and hostess. Flowers for her, but what to give to an old Marine? Finally, after fell over his sofa, he had a great idea. This was just something no Marine would have. He grinned. Mark Smith's car "Yeah, and then I couldn't find my towel. But the soap was still on me. Can you imagine me, running around in my house, naked, looking for a towel?" Mark Smith shook his head. He still was talking. Mark talked a lot, he didn't mind. He was really nice. Mulder grinned and shook his head. "No, I have really no idea what it looked like!" He still had this grin on his face. Sure he could imagine Mark Smith in a situation like this, but didn't tell the other agent. Was kinda of funny. Mark Smith was a handsome, kind man. He had black hair and green eyes. Mulder liked him very much. In this times Mark was his best friend, and his only one. The kid had on a black suit, he looked really elegant. Mulder did also, but he didn't realize he looked good too. When they stopped in front of the big house, Mulder's stomach decided to be against him. There were colorful lights all around the house, a lot of cars and music. It was real Christmas mood. Mulder swallowed. Mark smiled and walked slowly to the entrance. Mulder's heart started beating wildly. "Oh, one moment partner! I've forgotten something in the car. Do you mind waiting for a second?" Mulder shook his head and Mark walked back, whistling. You didn't need to see that he was happy, you even could hear it. Mulder sighed and leaned against a car. He looked up a window. He saw a blond man with a small boy on his arm. The boy had blond hair too, it was obvious that the boy was the man's son. Mulder was kind of jealous. He had never had someone to hold, like this boy. The kid looked out of the window, his eyes starring through Mulder. Blue eyes, like the sky. Mulder didn't recognize him. Not until the man turned half around, the boy still looking at him and talked to a woman. She had red hair, blue eyes. He knew it was her. He just stared at the window. But when the man handed her the little boy, and the little guy put his arms around her neck, he knew she must be the boy's mother. No way! But that also meant that this blond guy must be her husband. Smith residence He still stood there, his mouth opened. He was shocked. Okay, he had known before, he could have thought of anything like that. "Hey partner! What's the matter, did you see a ghost?" Mark smiled at him. Before Mulder could tell him that it wasn't such a good idea to go in there, Mark had grabbed his sleeve and pulled him up to the house. As soon as they opened the door, he was full in the crowd. Everywhere were people. Mark greeted a lot of people and introduced him to even the same number. Then suddenly he saw this boy again, with his blond hair and blue eyes. He starred at him. The little boy left his toy unattended and looked at the strange man who had just walked into the door. Mulder couldn't help, but smiled his best smile and the boy smiled back. He was cute. Had Scully's face. Mulder could tell. But he didn't want to face her, and especially her husband. He swallowed. Then, suddenly, a voice came from behind them. "Fox Mulder!" a strong female voice said. He slowly turned round and looked in the joyful face of Maggie Scully Smith. He grinned shyly back. Mulder looked around to get help from Mark, but he had disappeared in the crowd. "Fox Mulder!" she said again and put her hands onto his upper arms. "Where have you been? Three years! My god." She smiled at him, so proud and joyful he didn't know why. "Hi, Mrs. Scully Smith! How do you do?" he shyly asked. She took off his coat. "It's mom for you! Take off your coat son, it's hot in here!" He didn't know what to say. Why mom? Son? What's this stuff about? he thought, while she pulled him near to that window. "Dana dear! See who's here!" she called loudly and he feared that even Santa in his slide had to have heard it. He could see her standing near the door, holding the boy in her arms, talking to the blond guy, laughing. When her mother screamed she turned round, her face lightened. He thought. She handed the boy to the man and walked over to them. When she was only three steps away from him, he started fearing. And he didn't know what to do. Should he hug her, or just give her the hand? But he didn't have to decide, cause she walked into his embrace, though it never had been one. She put her arms around him, buried her face into his chest. "Fox Mulder!" she whispered. He didn't know what was going on. She wasn't only hugging him, she embraced him as if he was her husband, who had been lost for three years and she finally saw him again, still in love and passion. It felt good though, but there was blond guy. But instead of being angry that his wife was hugging another man this deep, he smiled, he had even tears in his eyes, Mulder thought. Scully was crying too. Tears were running down her cheeks. "I've never believed that I would see you again. After that night, someone had told me that you have disappeared and I was so down and left. Where have you been? I've missed you so much!" He was surprised. What was she talking about? He had disappeared? That was just bullshit! And then suddenly, he realized that it hadn't been her fault that somebody had told her that he had disappeared. And Mulder knew just too good who it had been, and his anger rose. But then he remember her in his arms, sobbing, crying and her husband standing near the window, crying too. Actually everybody was crying. He didn't knew why. Mulder stroke over her back, tried to calm her. But she sobbed uncontrollably into his shirt. He felt somehow guilty. Smith residence She finally had stopped crying, but didn't let him stop holding her. He couldn't believe it. The guy and the boy had disappeared mysteriously. It felt good to touch her, so good, but it felt also wrong. She had a family, a kid, a husband. Mulder knew that the boy must be almost three years old, and that meant that Scully had met the guy right after the X-Files had been shut down. She had just forgotten him after that and had a family. It hurt. He finally decided to put his arms away from her and she looked up. "Mulder what's the matter?" He shook his head. "I can't. Sorry, but I can't!" he whispered. She looked disturbed. What was he talking about. "Mulder, what is the matter? You can't? What?" He sat up. "See, I know that someone had told you that I've disappeared after that night and it was wrong. We both know who it had been, and why. They didn't wanted us to be together and you know that. I've never forgotten you and that night. But I can understand that you wanted to have a family with a guy who it isn't dangerous to be together. " She still didn't understand. The blond guy came near them. "Mulder what are-" "I mean your son. It is your son, right?" She nodded and smiled. With her hand she wiped the tears away and looked over to the little boy who smiled at her, but looked worried that his mother was crying. "Rodney! Come here!" she said and the little guy slowly stepped over to her. She put him up and he sat onto her lap, looking at Mulder. "He is cute. His father must be proud of him." She still smiled. "Yeah, I think he is," she said and he looked to that blond guy, who was smiling too. "I'm glad that at least you have a family life." She raised her eyebrow. "Mulder what...!" He shook his head. "Yeah, I mean you have a husband, a kid. " She grinned. "Mulder, what husband?" He pointed at the blond guy, who was grinning now too. "Him!" Suddenly they both started laughing. Smith residence "Why are you laughing?" Mulder asked, astonished. She stopped. "Sorry, Mulder. But it is just too funny. This is my brother Charlie!" she pointed at the blond guy who nodded towards Mulder. Mulder's mouth dropped open. "Er, oops. Sorry, but it just looked like that cause little Rodney here looked just like him. Who's his father?" She leaned over Rodney's head. "Sweetie, I want you to meet your father!" she said and looked at Mulder. His mouth dropped open again. "I'm...I'm his father?" he asked. She nodded with a smile. Rod smiled and stood up onto the sofa, looking his new daddy into the eyes. "Told ya mommy!" he said and reached out to touch Mulder. "Yeah honey, you were right!" Mulder glanced at his son. "Why have you never told me? It was this night, right? My god, I have a son!" She looked down. "I...thought you disappeared, that you were lost. I've missed you so much but I thought that you didn't love me. I moved to my mother's because I had to work and couldn't watch Rod the whole time. " Mulder nodded and smiled at his son. "Hi Rod!" "Hi Daddy! You look like my daddy in the picture!" he said and Mulder looked at Scully. "I've showed him a photo of us in the office. That's why he looked at you like that when you walked in the house. He told me his daddy was here. He has your memory. " Mulder nodded and then Rod sat down back onto Dana's lap. His little head rested against her shoulder. "But he has blond hair!" Mulder responded. "Yeah...perhaps because my real hair color is blond. He'll get your height. Even now he is one of the tallest kids his age. " Mulder shook his head, he still couldn't believe it. At first he had sat in his empty apartment and finally he had even a son! It was incredible. He shook his head. Dana looked worried at him. "You...you don't need...to...to mind. If you don't want to, I mean, if you don't want to be his daddy. You don't need to feel guilty about us..." He looked at her, her eyes filled with tears and finally his too. Why was she thinking that he could let them alone, his son, the only woman he had ever loved so deep? What was she thinking of him? "Dana, please. I never would leave you alone. And I don't think that I owe you anything, I love you. You have to believe me, if I could I would marry you at this moment. " She managed a smile, hoped that he said the truth. "I love you too. I've loved you always. But I mean your quest. Your sister. What'll happen if you have a family?" He looked at his son, sleeping peacefully in Dana's arms. Strains of his blond hair hung over his forehead. He was so cute. He remembered his sister too. Samantha. What would happen if he had a family? Could he still look for her? He had no doubt about that. The X-Files were closed, he had to work in the VCs, and had to try to find his sister another way. When he looked up, he saw the fear in her eyes. The fear of being alone, having nobody to talk, to touch, to love, except her son. She looked at him, expectant, full of hope. He smiled. "I'll love you always forever!" he said. "I'll never let you go!" and with his words she was sunken in his arms again. Smith residence Rodney looked at the man, who had been introduced to him as his father. He was really astonished. His mother had always told him that his daddy had disappeared, nobody knew where he had been, and now this man was here. He looked exactly like the man on the photo, his mother had showed him and told him that it had been his father. Rod didn't know if the guy brought any good to his mother, she was crying all the time. He only cried when he was sad or hurt. He needed his mother so much, she was all he had. Certainly he had his cousins, a lot of them, his uncles and aunts, also a lot of them, and a lot of family, but he his mother was most. He never had had a dad. He always had been jealous when the other kids had talked about their daddies, though he was only three years old. But he didn't know if this man was really his daddy. He wanted one so much, but he wanted one who loved him. He didn't wanted that anyone would take his mother away from him, or at least took her attention from him. He started crying. At first only slow and quiet, but then his voice rose, in fear of losing his own mother to this guy. When she turned round her mother held her son in her arms, trying to stop his tears and handed him to his mother. He put his small arms around her neck and held her tightly, as strong as never. She didn't know what was wrong with him. "Rodney, sweetie, what's wrong?" "I want don't to lose you, mommy!" he said, his small voice shaking. She looked at him in surprise. "Rod, you'll never lose me! Why do you think that?" Finally Rod stopped crying. "He! He'll take you away, you don't pay attention to me then!" Mulder looked guilty, but she shook her head. "No Rod. He's your daddy, he'll love you as much as I do! And he'll never take me away or my attention! He'll take away your attention, Rod! Believe me!" The boy was convinced and his dad was even allowed to hold him. Rodney was happy. This daddy man, was actually pretty nice. His dream had come true. He had a daddy. Someone had told him: "Be careful what you wish...it could come true!" Rodney had never really understood what it meant, but since this Christmas he knew it. It meant to be careful if you have a wish, that if it really becomes true, it might have been a mistake. If you wish yourself a daddy and you get one, you're happy at first, but then you realize that he is mean, he beats you, and you wish that he'd be dead. Not with his daddy. Or you wish badly that you have this guy as a friend, and when you have, you realize that he is snobbish and selfish, a real idiot. Not with his friends. Rodney had made one wish on Christmas Eve that year, that his parents would marry. And when they did, he didn't wish, even after years, that he hadn't wished it. End End note: So what'd ya think? Please write me any comments, feedback...I don't know if I could write a sequel to it, but maybe you think I could. Please e-mail me!
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