From: "mezzosoprano" Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 17:51:33 -0000 Subject: Christmas In Alexandria by Mezzosoprano Source: direct Title: Christmas in Alexandria Author: Mezzosoprano Email: mezzosoprano@blueyonder.co.uk Category: MSR Rating: G Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, Mrs Scully and Emily - they are not mine. Got that? Probably goes for any other characters that are mentioned too. (Except Karen, Robbie and Laura Scully - my take on Charles' wife and kids.) They all belong to The Surfer Dude, Chris Carter. And a whole host of other people. No infringement intended, no money being made. Archiving: Anywhere, I'd be honoured. Just please, keep these headers attached. Author's Note: This being December 29 today, I figured I'd better hurry up and submit my first Christmas fic before it's 2003. Timeline: First Christmas after losing Emily. Summary: Just why would Dana miss a 'Scully Family Christmas'? December 24, Christmas Eve. Mulder was alone in his apartment watching 'A Christmas Carol'. A quick glance at his watch told him it was 11.21pm. These halls weren't decked, but there were a few christmas cards dotted around the place from various acquaintences. One certain card, however, took pride of place on top of the tv. Mrs Mulder was visiting friends in a whole, entire, different state. After being held back due to work, Scully was catching a late flight with her Mom to Montreal, going to visit with her younger brother Charles and his wife Karen. Bill, Tara and Matthew were already there. Mulder was officially alone on Christmas Eve. Mulder took no comfort in this thought, seeing as how he hadn't participated in one, solitary Jewish ceremony in the whole of his adulthood. Christmas, to him, just seemed to be an official holiday adopted by everyone who, by the end of the year, were in dire need of a party. He sighed, and grabbed another handful of sunflower seeds. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Meanwhile, Scully wasn't on her way to the airport. She wasn't even out of her apartment. "But I don't understand," protested Mrs Scully. "What d'you mean you're not going? Our plane boards within the hour!" "What I've been trying to tell you all week, Mom. I'm not coming with you to Charles' and Karen's!" "It's all arranged," Mrs Scully continued, as if Scully hadn't spoken. "We have to hurry..." "You're not hearing me," Scully tried again. "I'm not coming." Mrs Scully began to get angry. "It's Christmas," she told her daughter. " It's family time and you damn well are coming!" She paused. "It's Matthew's first Christmas..." she went on. Scully rolled her eyes. "How d'you think Bill and Tara will feel if you're not there? Not to mention Robbie and Laura..." Her other nephew and niece. Charles' and Karen's kids. "Mom!" exclaimed Scully. Mrs Scully fell silent, and Scully drew in breath. "Don't ask me why I'm not coming. I know you won't like the reason." "Try me," invited her mother. Slightly turning her head, Scully glanced at the silver-framed photograph on her mantlepiece. "Look," she began quietly, "It's difficult enough for me over the holidays - you know, Dad and everything." "You don't have the monopoly on that, young lady," snapped Mrs Scully. "I know," nodded Scully. "But," she went on, barely above a whisper, "this year, I'm missing Emily too..." "Well, you know what I think about *that*," spat Mrs Scully. "And it's certainly no reason not to come to Montreal." "What d'you mean *that*?!" demanded Scully. "She was my daughter!" "She was an abomination," Mrs Scully told her. "No way was she ever a part of this family. Now stop being silly and let's make that plane." Scully swallowed, and tried to slow her breathing. Her rage was such that she could hardly make a coherent response. "Well," she began, "Whether or not Emily was a part of our family is something on which you and I will have to differ; but whether you accept the fact or not, I'm grieving for my daughter - and I will not spend Christmas with people who refuse even to acknowledge her existence." She let out a long breath. " I'll make it right with Karen, Tara and the children - but I'm not coming with you." Mrs Scully saw the determination in her daughter's eyes, and finally conceded defeat. "Fine," she said, eventually. "Have a nice time whatever you decide to do. I'll see you after New Years'." She made for the door. "Merry Christmas," managed Scully. Mrs Scully nodded, and closed the door behind her. Scully stood rooted to the spot for a few seconds, then looked again to the photograph on the mantlepiece. Going over, she lightly touched it, skimmed her fingertips over the glass. "I love you, Sweetie," she whispered, fighting back tears. The clock beside the photo read 11.25pm. Quickly, she came to a decision, and hurried through to her bedroom. Grabbing a holdall from the closet, she threw a few essentials in it, carefully laying Emily's photo on top. It took two or three goes to find a cab company with a car free on Christmas Eve. Scully gave her address to the controller, who asked her where she wanted to go. "Alexandria," she replied. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Nearly five to midnight, and Mulder was gently dozing on the couch. Scrooge was now being visited by the ghost of christmas past and it had been all too exciting for him. Mulder - not Scrooge. A sudden knock at the door brought Mulder back to the here and now. On opening the door, he was surprised to find Scully there. "Any room at the inn?" she asked. "What happened to Montreal?" "Changed my mind." Mulder stared at her, puzzled. "You gonna let me in, or what?" After letting her in and closing the door behind her, he took her coat. "What gives?" he asked. "Plane cancelled or what? There's no way you'd give up a Scully family christmas without a good reason, and I'm *not* buying that you changed your mind." His tone was light, but he was genuinely concerned. Her reply was to fuss with her holdall, facing away from him. "Scully?" Slowly, she looked up at him, and suddenly it him how pale she was. More so than usual. "What happened?" he asked, his voice totally devoid of humour this time. "Mom and I had a massive row," she admitted eventually. "About?" he wanted to know. Scully hesitated, then hung her head. "Sorry," he apologised. "None of my business." "About Emily," she told him. He gazed at her with sympathy. "She told me what she thinks of my daughter," she went on. "I'll never forgive her for that." Mulder was almost afraid to ask. "What... what did she say?" Scully bit her lip. "She.. she called... " her voice faltered, and she sighed. "She called Emily an abomination, Mulder," she managed. He closed his eyes at the word. "No way," he said, quietly. "Emily was many things, but not that. *Definitely*... certainly not that." He held Scully's gaze. "She was a bautiful little girl, Scully. Special." He swallowed before continuing. ""And.. I loved her too." She looked at him, grateful. "Thanks," she uttered, softly. He nodded. "Well," he began, trying to lighten the mood, "nothing spectacular happening here. Just sleeping through 'Scrooge's Finest Hour' *again*." "Perfect," she declared. "Peace and quiet." She dumped her holdall in the corner (after retrieving Emily's photograph) then collapsed onto the couch, followed swiftly by Mulder. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Shortly afterwards, Scully realised it was after midnight. "Hey." Mulder turned to look at her. "It's Christmas Day. Merry Christmas, Mulder." He smiled. "Merry Christmas, Scully," he returned, leaning over and kissing her lightly on the cheek. As he drew back, they were caught up in one another's eyes and slowly, they kissed again, their lips meeting gently this time. As they parted, Scully shivered. "You cold?" he asked. She was sure it had nothing to do with a drop in temperature, but she nodded all the same. Immediately, Mulder disappeared to the closet and came back with probably the biggest blanket she'd ever seen. "A blanket made for two," he told her, with a smile, which she returned. Sitting back down, he spread the blanket out so that it did indeed cover both of them. With the room lit only by the flickering light of the tv, Scully felt quite safe, very happy, and more than a little sleepy. They snuggled up together to watch the rest of the film. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The room was still dark when Scully awoke. She couldn't recall when, but Mulder must have turned off the tv hours ago. The video clock told her it was 6.47am. Carefully (because she was all but on the edge of the couch) she turned over under the blanket so that she was facing Mulder. Briefly, his eyes flickered open. "It's still early," she whispered. "Go back to sleep." As he drew his arms around her a little more tightly, she brushed his forehead with her lips, the softest christmas kiss. Silently, the snow fell outside the window, and they both drifted back to sleep. The End.