From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org Date: 23 Oct 2005 01:32:30 -0000 Subject: And For All Of You To Share It With by Pattie Source: direct Reply To: patfiler@hotmail.com Title: And For All Of You To Share It With Author: Pattie Rated: G Category: K, MSR, DRR Spoiler(s): The whole series. We won the war. Summary: It's 2005, the second time Mulder and Scully enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with Doggett and Reyes. So, with William and Meg in tow, they venture out to Washington and find more than friendship. Feedback: patfiler@hotmail.com Archive: Gossamer, Nurseryfiles, Pattie's Pocketful of X-Fics. Others please ask and ye shall receive. Disclaimer: None of the original X-Files characters or title is mine, and I thank Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and Fox Studios for them by denying remuneration and endeavouring to avoid copyright infringement. Author's Note: Responding to The Nursery Files Thanksgiving Challenge. ALLENBURY APARTMENTS WASHINGTON, DC. Little Meg Mulder was fast asleep in her carseat as her father parked the vehicle outside of the Doggetts' apartment building. "Unkie Doggie's house! Yay!" William cheered and clapped. Scully unfastened her seatbelt and warned him: "Uncle John will do nicely, young man, and we have had this little talk before. Now, let's get out of the car quietly so as not to wake Meg." Mulder removed their daughter from her seat as Scully held the door open for William. "Now remember, we're visiting. I know you'll be very good, and remember it's Thanksgiving." "Yes Mom," Mulder saluted as he said these words. "Okay, I know where William's sarcasm comes from. Shall we?" They entered the lobby of the building, and Mulder pushed the elevator button. "It's still hard to believe he got the nerve to pop the question, let alone talk about starting a family right away." "Well, thank God he's let go of the past," Scully added. "What's 'letting go of the past' mean, Mommy?" Scully smiled at Mulder, then kneeled to explain the saying to her son. "Well, it means forgetting bad things that may have happened and getting on with your life. Okay, in we go." Mulder pressed 4 on the keypad as Meg remained asleep in her father's arms. "There's something I didn't tell you, Scully. Only because Monica and John wanted to make it a surprise." "Really? What?" "You'll see." He just smiled and rocked Meg as they left the elevator, walking to Apartment 404. Scully knocked. "Just a sec!" It was the barely audible voice of John Doggett, followed by his hurried footsteps. "Hey! C'mon on, and pleeee-ease, keep your voices down. He was wearing a plaid apron and looked rather tired. Mulder smirked. "Little woman got you in the kitchen?" "Yeah, funny Mulder. Hey William, Dana. Little Meg's asleep, huh? Put your coats in the clost and I'll be back in a minute." He hurried off to the kitchen. "Nice place," Scully marvelled as she hung William's coat and took Meg into her arms. "I'll go get the bags," Mulder offered. "Stay inside, Will. It's getting rainy." Scully took William and Meg into the livingroom and sat on the couch, as John brought them refreshments. "Hot coffee for the adults, and a nice hot cocoa for William. Want me to warm Meg's bottle?" "Yes, just let me get one out of the bag. My, you sure are becoming quite the family man, but where's Monica?" "She's resting." "Resting? On Thanksgiving? Who may I ask is cooking?" Doggett knew the jig was up. "I am. You'll see why soon. She should be up in a few minutes." "She isn't sick, is she? I night be able... " "Mommy's a doctor," William added. "Well, Monica doesn't need a doctor right now, guys. She is very healthy. The sweet potatoes... " He ran into the kitchen. Mulder returned with luggage, and placed it in the hallway. "Apparently, we're all in the second bedroom. So, where's Doggett?" "He's in the kitchen. Mulder, the man is behaving so strangely, and Monica is 'resting'. Don't you think that's peculiar?" Mulder shrugged. "Well, if you mean Doggett... " "Don't give me the smart comeback. You know what I mean. Usually, he'd be vegged out watching the game. Now tell me what's going on." At that moment, Monica Reyes entered the livingroom in her robe, carrying a small bundle wrapped in a blanket. Scully's eyes lit up. "No!" She stood and ran to get a look at the baby, while still carrying Meg. "Yes, and isn't she cute? We wanted to surprise you. After the past year, we've been very busy at work, and we managed to conceive almost immediately after getting married. Her name is Anna." "Oh, she's so much like you, Monica!" Scully marvelled that another miracle had entered the world after so much hardship. "She's how old?" "A week. We had to threaten Mulder with praying mantisses to get him to keep his mouth shut." "Praying mantisses?" William was clearly confused. "Never mind," his father said firmly. "Wash up for dinner." He wandered over ever so quietly to see young Anna, and then walked around behind his wife. Mulder, his eyes full of mischief, looked at Anna and said, "Well, we're still one ahead of them. Want to try for another one? It's fun." Monica laughed. "You'd better hope Dana gets a lot of rest before you get in over your head with chores." Scully gave Mulder a mock glare. "My thought exactly." Her eyes became soft and wet. "Still... " William ran out of the bathroom. "Daddy! Can I get out my bear?" "Sure. Your bag's right beside mine over there. That reminds me... " Mulder ventured over to his luggage and pulled out a wrapped box. "Where's you get that?" Scully asked. "Even more importantly, how did you get that past me?" Monica took the box as Mulder held little Anna. She sat on the couch and opened the beautiful package. "A Christening gown," she cried. "You're so sweet!" She hugged Scully, then Mulder. "Fox, I bet this was the hardest secret you've ever had to keep." "Well, not really. But this is from all of us, and I did manage to keep my wife in the dark, so I'm going to pay for it later. I know that much." Doggett made his appearance with William's bear in hand. "Dinner is served, and your little man thought I needed a cuddly toy." "Aw, he really suits you," Mulder quipped. "If you don't get into the kitchen soon, your son will have eaten most of our Thanksgiving dinner." "I'd better put Anna back in her cradle. She'll call, believe me." Scully watched as Doggett headed toward the front door. "Where are you going, John?" "Landry room. Third load is dry and I have more on the way. Oh yeah, and after a while, we do want more kids. So don't look at me that way, Mulder. Your wife might just be thinking about assigning YOU to laundry detail! Bottle's on the counter, Dana." "Thanks, John. Oh yeah," Scully smiled. "Let's get going on another one. Maybe next year, due a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving." Mulder rolled his eyes and unrolled his dinner napkin, then helped William with his. Monica beamed as she sat at the table. "I'm thankful you had the chance to see this moment. Most importantly, I'm thankful I have a safe world, and for all of you to share it with." END