From: ephemeral@ephemeralfic.org
Date: 14 Oct 2005 02:49:32 -0000
Subject: Revised:  He\'s Wondered About A Happy Birthday by Pattie
Source: direct

Reply To: patfiler@hotmail.com


Title:  He's Wondered About a Happy Birthday

Author: Pattie

Rated: May be read by the general public.

Category: MSR, Post Series, Short Story.

Spoiler(s):  All of it.

Summary: Just a little gift from me, as a peace offering
for forgetting Mulder's birthday.

Feedback: patfiler@hotmail.com

Archive:  Gossamer,  Pattie's Pocketful of X-Fics.  Please
ask before you pick it up, and I'll likely be happy to
provide it.

Disclaimer: Imaginary friends and no monies earned.
Chris Carter, Ten Thirteen Productions and Fox Studios
own the rights and owe us another movie.

Author's Note: Sorry I'm so late, Mulder.  Happy birthday
to you and daddy Chris Carter.



Sleep.  It had been something he had been lacking for 
many, many years.  Although it hadn't impacted on his work
performance at The Bureau, the lack of sleep was something
Fox Mulder had been used to since his thirteenth year of
life.  The sleep had come sparsely all these years.  If
it hadn't been induced out of necessity for the sake of
surgery, it had arrived because his tired mind could no 
longer resist the lure of serotonin.

"It's been a long time," his father told him.  Mulder was
walking in some unknown wonderland of Carolinian forest
that vibrated with life, peace and beauty.  "You've had
a lot of unrest, and it was our doing.  I regret not 
having been there for you." Bill Mulder sat on a rotting 
tree stump and held his hands toward his ersatz son.  
"Come sit a moment.  You're exhausted."

"I... I don't know why I'm here, Dad."  Mulder was now 
past forty years old, and saw no necessity to be in such
a beauteous place when the world was in such chaos.

"You feel guilty for meeting your body's needs.  Well, 
let me tell you, you need not feel guilt over such a 
wondrous creation. No, I won't tell you where we are. No, 
I never meant for things to happen so tragically. No, I 
was not in favor of sending your sister to 'those creeps'"

The younger Mulder pursed his lips in an effort to prevent
himself from lashing out with the most vile epithets he was
thinking.  "Doesn't look like Hell, so I guess I AM 
dreaming.  My father the mind reader, a new sitcom. Tell 
me, Dad.  Tell me about my real father. Was he more handsome 
to Mom?  Was he a better lover?  Why... "

"Son.  I call you that because I was a father to you.  Now,
you are a father, and a good father.  Whoever sired you is 
not important.  My pride in you is beyond your comprehension.
You and the little red-haired girl, Charlie Brown, saved the 
world."

"With a little help from my friends," Mulder dryly, 
sarcastically whispered. "Well, it was one hell of a fight, 
and we earned our keep.  So what the hell am I doing here
talking to a dead man?  By the way, I would like to believe 
the dead are trying to tell us something. And another 
thing... "

The elder Mulder stood from the stump and stared seriously
into the younger Mulder's angry eyes.  "Dammit, have a happy
birthday and kiss those grandchildren of mine for me.  I 
have places to go and people to deal with.  See you in fifty 
years.  Now, take William fishing before he gets too old to
respect his old man."

Bill Mulder and the lovely forest disappeared as the sleeper
was jolted awake by a little boy shaking him by the 
shoulders. "Wha-- ?"

"Daddy!  Happy Birthday!  Wake up!  We got a lotta stuff
to do, presents and a big, big cake!"

Fox Mulder smiled and hugged William. "Yeah, I guess we have
a lot every day, don't we?"

"Yeah," Scully answered from the doorway. "So rise and shine,
drink your coffee, and enjoy.  We have the whole day off,
and the fish are waiting down on the dock.  Happy Birthday
Mulder."

"I think it is."  Mulder smiled and hugged his wife and son
before the girls awoke.  "This is what I've wondered about
for years.  A happy birthday."


                            END