From: Cathey Date: 16 Jan 2002 18:28:06 -0800 Subject: [all-xf] New: Holiday Memories Made (1 of 1) (Prequel to Back Source: atxc Title: Holiday Memories Made Author: Cathey Scully Category: MSR, S, A Keywords: Mulder/Scully Romance, Prequel to Back Again. Rating: PG-13 Spoilers: season 8, How the Ghosts Stole Christmas, and Emily Archive: If you want, just tell me where so Mulder and I can bring the kids and visit. Feedback: Please! Even the shortest note is appreciated. CatheyScully@the-pentagon.com or Scully@ga.prestige.net Summary: During Christmas, new memories are made, and old ones are explored. Disclaimer: Mulder, Scully, and the rest of the usual X-Files characters aren't mine. However, Akila is. Notes: This is technically the fourth story in my 'Changed' series, but chronologically it goes before 'Back Again'. The only ones you need to read to understand this are the first two, 'Changed' and 'Home is." Dedications: To Jessie, who told me to write another story in this series, even if this wasn't what she meant. I'm gonna miss you next semester! * * * He marveled in what being a father meant. It meant that he had a family. It meant that he had somebody who he could love unconditionally. It meant that this tiny, beautiful creature relied on him for so many things. It meant that he was where he belonged. Akila was one of the biggest sources of joy in his life. Even now that she was teething and in almost constant pain. He reveled in the time he had with his daughter, since he stayed with her during the few hours that Scully was working. After the New Year he wouldn't get that time, because his reinstatement to the FBI would be complete. "Come on Akila, I know it hurts baby, but you need to eat." Mulder cooed, trying to coax his daughter into taking the bottle of pumped breast milk that he offered to her. Akila finally relented and took the bottle, sucking greedily. Mulder smiled in amusement and gazed down at her tenderly. "That's my girl." Mulder shifted Akila imperceptibly and began to walk the floor. He watched as Akila took in her surroundings from around the plastic bottle. Mulder crossed over to the Christmas tree and stared at it. "You know Akila, this is the first real tree I've had in years." Mulder glanced down at her. "Yeah, that's pathetic, I know. But I was so lonely without you and mommy. She's my best friend in the world. And you're my second best friend. But I digress; yeah I haven't had a Christmas tree in years. Last year at this time, I was away, and Mommy and I were forcibly separated. Now, your mom is really big on celebrating, but last year she said she couldn't bring herself to celebrate. I sure as hell didn't celebrate." Mulder paused, collecting his thoughts. "The year before that, I was just a lonely bachelor without much Christmas spirit. Mommy really must have loved me enough to let me spend Christmas with her. We got drunk on her Aunt's special recipe cider and held each other tightly. The year before that, even though we were fighting, Mommy spent time with me that she could have been spending with Grandma and your Uncle Bill, whom tomorrow you will find out doesn't like me at all. But I really don't care, because you and your mom do, and that's all I care about." Mulder paused to take the bottle from Akila's lips and raise her to his shoulder to burp. After she'd let out a mighty belch, Akila reached for her bottle again. He smiled and guided the milk back to her lips. "As I was saying. On Christmas '97, mommy found your older sister Emily. She was three years old and such a beautiful child. Second only to you of course. But we found Emily, and then because she was very sick, we lost her. The year before that, your mom was very sick. I came so close to losing her and it tore me up inside. Because she was so sick, she was always worn out, and she never wanted to let me in. But she did on Christmas." "Mulder are you going to recount every Christmas since we've been together, or can I make you stop now?" Scully's wry voice broke through. Mulder turned away from the tree and grinned. "You're home early." "Yeah, Skinner kicked me out. Said I have no excuse to be working on Christmas Eve this year." Scully crossed over to Mulder and Akila, giving them both a tired smile. Mindful of the baby, who had fallen asleep with the bottle still in her mouth, Mulder leaned down and gave Scully a soft kiss. "He's right, you don't. I'm glad you're home. Why didn't you tell me you worked on Christmas Eve?" Scully took Akila from Mulder. She grabbed the burp cloth from his shoulder and wiped her daughter's face gently. After she finished and still not answered, Mulder tilted her chin up with his finger. "Why didn't you tell me?" "I don't know. I guess because you still feel like it was your fault that you were taken. I don't want you to feel guilty." "Scully, I'll always feel guilty. I left you alone when you needed me, and I never should have done that. But I'm trying to move past that, because I know that you don't blame me. I really just want to move past all the bad memories and make some new ones." "Oh really Agent Mulder. What sort of new memories do you propose we make?" Scully leered in a startlingly good impression of him. "Well first," Mulder grinned. "I want you to put Akila down for a few minutes." "Only a few minutes Mulder? I'm disappointed." Scully laughed at Mulder's mock hurt look. "And then I want you to help me wrap Akila's presents. You need to get your mind out of the gutter Scully." Scully smiled again and stood on tiptoes to whisper in her throaty seductive voice. "Should I grab yours as well?" "No need to be insulting Scully." Mulder pouted playfully and Scully brushed her lips over his. "Besides, how long Akila sleeps, determines what our other activities can be." Scully's only response was a snort. An hour later, Mulder sat with Scully on the couch, rubbing her shoulders gently. She moaned when he hit a sensitive spot. "Like that?" Mulder whispered, his mouth close to her ear. "Yeah, do it again." Scully whispered back appreciatively. Mulder complied and Scully rolled her head back and gazed up at him. "I love you." "I love you too Scully." Mulder kissed her lips quietly. "Your mom called while you were at work. She wanted to know if we were coming to mass tonight." "What'd you tell her?" "I said probably not. Because Akila was being fussy." "Good. We'll go next year. Besides, we're going to Mom's tomorrow night." "Who's going to be there?" "I'm not going to tell you because you won't want to come if I do." Scully laughed and Mulder smirked. "I always like to come with you Scully." Mulder leered and Scully chuckled. "Mulder have you always been this way?" She teased. "What can I say? You bring out the best in me." "Oh really?" Scully turned around and draped herself over him, holding herself up by her arms, which she had placed on either side of his head. "Why don't you show me and I'll determine if it's your best or not?" She grinned and leaned down to kiss him roughly, just as the phone rang. "Hello?" "Dana, it's mom." "Hi mom." Scully shifted and climbed off of Mulder, walking into the bedroom for privacy and to check on Akila. "Yes, the baby is napping. No, we won't be coming to mass. Akila's teething and she'd never be able to stay quiet." "You and Fox could-" "Mom, Mulder and I really need to stay home this year. We'll be at your place around 4 tomorrow." "Fox is coming tomorrow night?" "Yes Mom." "I thought that since Bill is here..." "Mom, Mulder wants to make a fresh start with Bill. But if it's going to be a problem, we can just bring Akila by for a little bit and then come home." "No, no, no, of course you won't. You just surprised me Dana." "Why? Because I said that the father of my child is coming with me to Christmas dinner this year?" "Of course not, Dana." "I need to go mom. Is there anything you'd like us to bring?" "Just yourselves and my darling granddaughter." "Bye Mom." Scully settled the phone down and checked on Akila before moving back into the living room with Mulder. She settled down in his arms and sighed. "What's wrong?" "I just wonder if..." "If what?" "Nothing Mulder." Scully denied. "Stay here. I'm going to get your presents." "But Scully, they're right there." "No, I'll explain in a few minutes." Scully pulled away from Mulder and returned a minute later with a few wrapped presents. She handed them to him and settled next to him. He looked quizzically at her. "Scully?" "These are yours, I bought them last year while you were gone." "Why?" "Because... I wanted you to come home." Scully admitted, her voice small. Mulder was taken aback by her openness and leaned over, kissing her quickly. "Better late than never." He set the presents down and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Scully rested her head on his shoulder and placed her hand over his heartbeat. "So, what'd you get me Scully?" "You have to open the presents to find that out Mulder." "Aww Scully, you're no fun." Mulder whined playfully. "Unwrap your presents, Mulder." Scully sat up and put the gifts back in Mulder's arms. With a look at her, he eagerly dug in and grinned. "Subway Series, 2000. Thank you Scully." "I figured you'd enjoy watching it. Open this one now." Once he was done opening his gifts, Mulder pulled Scully back into his arms. She took one hand and played with his fingers. "So, what'd you get me this year Scully?" Mulder gave her a squeeze. She shook her head. "Tomorrow Mulder." "Okay. I'm sorry I didn't get you anything last year." "You're off the hook Mulder." "So I got you twice the amount this year." He grinned and raised her hand to his lips. "Mulderrr." "Sculllyyyy." He echoed, making her chuckle. "Go make dinner Mulder." "Pizza or Chinese?" "Chinese. Mongolian Beef." "Gotcha." Mulder slid from her arms and kissed her gently. "I'm going to take a bath. Come and get me when food gets here." "Okay dear." Mulder called out as he walked into the kitchen to get the number for the take-out Chinese place. "Don't push it Mulder." He grinned and grabbed the cordless that stayed in the kitchen. Mulder dialed and waited to place his order. Once he was done, he got paper plates out and put them on the table before moving into the bedroom to pick Akila up. "Hey Akila, you're going to keep me company while Mommy's relaxing." Mulder settled her against his shoulder. She grunted and he smiled. "Wanna hear more of Daddy's Christmas memories?" "No Mulder." Scully interrupted, her voice coming from the bathroom. "Party pooper." "I try." He could tell Scully was grinning. Mulder grinned at nothing in particular and walked with Akila out to the living room. In a low voice he began to recount Christmases past. As he spoke to his daughter, he realized that this was the only Christmas he ever wanted to remember; because he had everything he could ever want right now. End!!!!