Sarah Companion: Mulder Spice 5/7
<jimcaz@dircon.co.uk>

     The next evening, Mulder let himself into the house.  He was
surprised not to find his daughter hurtling towards him, or hear the
sound of the Spice Girls booming around the living room.  He dropped
his keys next to the crib scene and hung his overcoat on a hook on the
opposite wall, then headed for the kitchen.  Scully was sitting at the
table reading over what looked like an autopsy report.
     "Hey Scully.  What's that you're reading?"  He leaned down and
kissed her cheek then crossed to the fridge, removing the orange juice
and taking a generous swig straight from the bottle.
     "I was just reading over the report I finished this afternoon."
She placed it back into the folder lying on the table and closed it.
"Mulder, how many times do I have to ask you not to drink straight
from the bottle?"
     He gave her a disarming smile.  "Sorry, Scully."
     Scully knew she was wasting her breath with her constant
reminders - the habit was too ingrained for Mulder to ever change.
     "Listen," said Mulder softly.
     "What?  I can't hear anything," answered Scully.
     "Exactly.  I can't remember the last time it was as quiet as
this."   Mulder sat on the chair beside his wife.  "Where is Sarah,
anyway?"
     "Your memory must be going, Mulder.  I reminded you this
morning - it's Vanessa's birthday today and as a treat, Mrs Castle is
taking Vanessa and Sarah ice skating after school, then for something
to eat.  Sarah will be staying at the Castle's overnight."
     A slow smile spread across Mulder's face and he reached out to
knead Scully's shoulder gently.
    "You want to take advantage of that, Scully?" asked Mulder.  "It's
not often we get the place to ourselves? it'd be a shame to waste such
an opportunity."  He leaned in and nuzzled her neck.   "Mind you, it's
been such a long time that I'm not sure I can remember how."
     "Yeah - it must have been all of a week," chuckled Scully.
     "I didn't realise you were keeping a diary." His hot breath on
her neck made Scully shiver.  "So what do you say?"
     "What about dinner?"
     "Dinner can wait?" breathed Mulder.  "Besides, I always have a
better appetite after making love."  With that, he lifted Scully and
tossed her over his right shoulder in a fireman's carry.
     "Mulder, you idiot! Put me down!" she cried.
     "Hush, woman.  We don't want the whole street to know what we're
up to."
     Scully laughed happily as he carried her into the bedroom and
toed the door shut.

     Mulder woke with a start the next morning - he wasn't used to the
house being this quiet.  Then he remembered that his daughter wasn't
there and saw another heaven sent opportunity for some uninterrupted
intimacy with his wife.  Rolling onto his side, Mulder wrapped an arm
around a naked Scully's waist and prepared to rouse her gently with
his own special brand of wake up call.
     Although he loved Sarah with all his heart, and loved being with
her, Mulder wanted to spend time alone with Scully.  He felt it was
important to build on the intimate side of their relationship, and
sometimes that was difficult with an inquisitive young child in the
house, although he had trained Sarah to knock on the bedroom door
before she entered.  The night the young girl had caught him and
Scully in an advanced state of undress in the latter's apartment was
ingrained on his memory.  They could laugh about it now, but at the
time, Scully had wanted to die with embarrassment, even though Sarah
was half asleep when she had stumbled into Scully's living room in
search of a glass of water and didn't remember much the next morning.
     So any opportunity for intimacy was grasped enthusiastically.
Mulder and Scully had had a couple of weekends away on their own and
Margaret was always happy to take Sarah off their hands when they
wanted some time alone.  The arrangement worked very well and they
made sure that Sarah didn't lose out.  The little girl always received
a treat of some sort later.

     Mulder darted into the living room.  Both were running a tad late
after their early morning romantic interlude and he had one last thing
to pick up before they took off for the office.
     "Mulder, what are you doing with Sarah's Spice Girls CD?"
demanded Scully, seeing her husband shove the disc into his briefcase.
     He started, and laid a hand on his chest, covering his racing
heart.  "Don't do that, Scully - you frightened the life out of me."
     "Don't avoid the question, Mulder.  What do you want with Sarah's
CD?"
     "Special mission, Scully," replied Mulder, tapping the side of
his nose.  The idea had come to him just as he drifted off after their
lovemaking the night before.
     "What special mission?"  Scully eyed him suspiciously.
     "Can't tell you.  If I told you, I'd have to kill you."
     "Oh, very James Bond.  Come on, Mulder - what are you up to?"
     "Patience, Scully.  All will be revealed in due course."  Mulder
snapped his briefcase shut.
     "I hate it when you're like this," she sighed.
     "You know you love me really," grinned Mulder and Scully rolled
her eyes.  "Especially after last night and this morning."  His grin
grew even wider and his eyebrows waggled.
     Scully gave him a long suffering look.  "Just make sure you get
that CD back here before Sarah discovers it's missing, or there'll be
hell to pay."
     "Trust me, Scully - she won't even know it's been removed."

     Mulder handed Scully a mug of fresh coffee just as the office
phone rang.  She picked it up and spoke into it with her usual brisk
efficiency, then placed a hand over the mouthpiece.  "It's for you,
Mulder."  Scully paused.  "It's the school."
     Mulder's stomach lurched.  The school wouldn't be calling unless
it was bad news.  "Is Sarah all right?" he asked anxiously, taking the
handset from her and preparing himself for the worst.
     "I don't know, Mulder, they just asked for you."
     Their eyes met as he spoke into the phone.  "This is Fox Mulder."
He listened as the person on the other end related the reason for
calling, closing his eyes briefly and rubbing the tips of two fingers
over the little frown that had formed between his brows.  "All right,
I'll be there at 2.30.  Thank you for calling."  He slowly replaced
the receiver and sighed.
     "What's happened, Mulder?" asked Scully.  She didn't know what to
think.
     He sighed again, deeply.  "Apparently Sarah got into a fight."
     "A fight?!" gasped Scully.  "But Sarah doesn't have an aggressive
bone in her body!"  She couldn't believe it.  The little girl had a
temper, but she wasn't one to lash out and strike anyone.
     "Well, that's what I've just been told, Scully.  She hit some
girl and made her nose bleed."
     "Did they say why?"
     "No.  I've agreed to go down there this afternoon and sort it
out."
     "I'll come with you, Mulder.  That is, if you don't mind."
     He reached out and took her hand.  "No, I don't mind, Scully.  I
think it's a good idea? it'll probably be a good thing to have your
calming influence beside me."

     As always happens with the best laid plans, things go wrong.
Just as Mulder and Scully were about to take a break for lunch, Mulder
was summoned to the Assistant Director's office and told that his
services were needed immediately elsewhere.  He knew it would be
useless to protest  it had never gotten him anywhere before.  As he
made his disgruntled way back to the basement he wished for once that
they'd call in another agent.  Mulder wasn't the only profiler that
the Bureau had, but he was undoubtedly the best.  In a way, they were
paying him a backhanded compliment every time they requested his
expertise.
     When Mulder reached the office, he explained the position as
succinctly as he could.   He slipped into his overcoat, and checked
his pockets for everything that he thought he would need.  "Scully,
about the school?"
     Scully's small hand closed around his wrist and squeezed gently.
"Don't worry, Mulder  I'll take care of it."
     "Thanks.  I'll call later and let you know what's happening."
     "All right.  Take care, Mulder."

     "Mrs Mulder to see you."
     Mrs Whitworth, the school principal, stood as her secretary
ushered Scully into the office.  She held out her hand, and Scully
shook it with a firm grasp.  "Thank you for coming, Mrs Mulder.
Please, take a seat."  Mrs Whitworth waited until Scully had sat down
before retaking her own seat.  "I was expecting to see Mr Mulder," she
said.
     Scully gave an apologetic smile.  "I'm sorry, my husband was
called away urgently, and I've come in his place.  We're both very
concerned about this incident involving our daughter, and my husband
felt that rather than let it drag on until he's available, it would be
better if I came down and dealt with it today."  Scully's friendly
expression, with it's underlying hint of steel, dared the principal to
disagree.
     "Of course.  I'm as anxious as you are for the matter to be
resolved."  Mrs Whitworth paused briefly.  "I have to say that I was
surprised by Sarah's behaviour this morning - since her problem
earlier this year, she has been an exemplary student."
     "Thank you.  My husband has been very pleased with her progress
and the way she's settled down."  Scully pre-empted the principal's
next line of questioning, saying, "Sarah is very happy here, and at
home."
     Mrs Whitworth smiled.  "I have no doubts about that, Mrs Mulder."
     Scully was glad to hear it.  She placed her hands in her lap,
ready to get down to business and said, "I'd like to hear Sarah's
version of events, if I may."
     "Certainly."  The principal buzzed through to her secretary and
asked for Sarah to be sent in.
     The little girl came into the room, closed the door behind her
and stood in front of the principal's desk.  She was surprised to see
Scully sitting there and not her father.  Before she could stop
herself, Sarah asked anxiously, "Where's Daddy?"
     "Do you mind if I explain?" asked Scully.  Mrs Whitworth shook
her head and Scully quickly related the reason for Mulder's absence,
noting Sarah's tense stance relax once her mind was set at ease.  The
principal was free to continue.
     "Sarah, I asked your parents to come to see me because of the
incident you were involved in this morning.  Would you like to tell us
what happened?"
     The little girl took a deep breath.  "We were practising our
Spice Girls and Natalie Blackburn came over and said we couldn't do
the Spice Girls 'cause she was going to do it.  I said she couldn't
because we thought of it first.  Then she pulled my hair and kicked me
and called me a naughty word and said horrible things about Daddy.  So
I hit her and made her nose bleed."
     "Do you mind if I ask a question?" said Scully, wondering whether
it had been the assault on Sarah or the fact that the other girl had
insulted Mulder that had made Sarah lash out.
     "Please do," replied Mrs Whitworth.
     "Sarah, where did Natalie kick you?"
     "On my leg," answered the little girl.
     "Show me."
     Sarah lifted the right leg of her red plaid pants and showed
Scully the spot.  There were definite signs of a bruise appearing.
     Scully smiled.  "Thank you, sweetheart."
     Mrs Whitworth smiled too.  "Thank you, Sarah.  Please wait
outside while I talk to your mother."
     Scully watched her daughter go, just catching sight of the smile
that Sarah threw her before she closed the door, then turned back to
the principal.  "What do you know about the other girl?"
     "Natalie does have a tendency to bully the younger girls,"
admitted Mrs Whitworth.
     From that, Scully deduced that it wasn't the first time the girl
had been in trouble.  "I assume you'll be speaking to her parents?"
     "Of course."
     "How do you propose to punish Sarah?"
     "I realise that Sarah was provoked, and that this behaviour is
quite out of character for her.   I don't see any benefit in removing
her from the school show  Sarah and her little group have worked
extremely hard on their routine.  I will, however, be writing to you
and the Blackburns formally to let you know that any further behaviour
along the lines of this morning's incident will result in suspension,
and possible exclusion."
     Scully nodded.  She thought the punishment was fair, and was
pleased that Sarah wasn't to be barred from the show after all her
hard work.
     Mrs Whitworth stood.  "I'll let Sarah know what action I've
decided to take."  She brought Sarah back into the office to tell the
child her fate.  The principal looked up into the anxious little face
on the other side of her desk.  "Sarah, we've already spoken a little
about the incident this morning.  Fighting is not acceptable behaviour
in school, and it will not be tolerated.  If I find you coming before
me again for the same reason, you will be suspended, and possibly
excluded.  Do you understand?"
     "Yes, Mrs Whitworth," answered the little girl.
     The principal smiled.  "All right, Sarah  you may return to your
class."
     "Thank you," said Scully, once Sarah was out of the room.  She
knew that Mulder would be relieved with the outcome.  "I can say as
far as Sarah is concerned that this won't happen again."

     Mulder was indeed relieved at the outcome of Scully's visit to
the school.  She had filled him in on his return home that evening and
they decided that they would speak to Sarah after dinner to reinforce
what she had been told at school by the principal.
     Sarah was just about to run off to her room when her father
caught her shoulders.  "Not so fast, young lady."  He smiled down at
her.  "Come and sit with me, sweetheart  I want to talk to you."
     Sarah knew that whenever her father asked her to sit with him and
talk, it was usually serious.  She  looked up at him, and Scully saw
the same anxious expression that the little girl had worn in Mrs
Whitworth's office.  Scully took an armchair while Sarah sat beside
her father on the sofa.  Although Scully would not take an active part
in Mulder's discussion with Sarah, it was important that the little
girl saw her mother and father presenting a united front.
      Mulder's arm lay comfortably around his daughter's small
shoulders.   "Sweetheart, I want to talk about what happened at school
today," he said in a gentle tone.  He felt it was important that Sarah
knew he wasn't angry  that would get them precisely nowhere.  "I know
you lost your temper and hit out, but that's not the right thing to
do.  You could have hurt Natalie badly  you could have broken her
nose."
     "But she started it, Daddy!  She pulled my hair and kicked me!"
cried Sarah indignantly as all the injustice of the situation rose up
in her.
     Mulder's fingers stroked up and down his daughter's arm.  "I
know, Sarah, but you should have ignored her?"
     "She said nasty things about you, Daddy."  Sarah had wrapped her
arm around her father's middle and laid her head on his chest.
     "What did she say?" asked Mulder, intrigued, despite himself.
     "I can't tell you.  Natalie said bad words."
     "Well, it doesn't matter."  Mulder had heard it all in his time.
He didn't think there was an epithet under the sun that he hadn't been
called.  "What does matters is that you can't go around hitting the
other children at school when they make you angry, however much you
want to."  His fingers combed through Sarah's hair for a moment.  "Sit
up for a minute, sweetheart."  He couldn't discuss this without seeing
her face, and Mulder turned slightly so that he was looking straight
at her.  All the time, he maintained that same gentle way of speaking.
"Sarah, Mrs Whitworth told you that any more fighting would not be
tolerated and if it happened again, you would be suspended.  Do you
understand what that means?"
     Sarah nodded gravely.
     "Okay.  Would you tell me what you think it means?"
     "It means that I'm not allowed to go to school for a while.  I
have to have time out so that I can think about what I've done."
     "That's right," nodded Mulder.  "Do you understand what it means
to be excluded?"
     "I'm not sure, Daddy."
     "It means that you wouldn't be able to go to that school any
more.  You'd have to leave all your friends behind, and Mommy and I
would have to find you a new school, where you'd have to make new
friends."
     "But Daddy, I like my school and my friends," said Sarah.
     Mulder smiled, and cupped her cheek.  "I know you do, sweetheart.
That's why it's important that you don't get into any more trouble
there.  I know we've talked about this before, but what should you do
if someone hits you or is nasty to you?"
     "Go and find a teacher."
     "Good girl."  Mulder gave her a squeeze to show that he was
pleased that she remembered.  "And if you can't go and find a teacher,
what should you do?"
     "Ask one of my friends to go."
     "Very good, sweetheart."  He kissed her forehead.  "So, are we
agreed that you won't get into any more trouble at school?"
     Sarah nodded.
     "That's excellent."  He glanced across to Scully.  "Is there
anything you'd like to add, Scully?"
     She rose and joined her husband and daughter on the sofa, taking
the little girl's hand.  "I just want to add one thing?"  Scully
gently pushed a strand of hair behind the child's ear.  "Sweetheart, I
just want you to know that you can come to me or Daddy at any time,
and about any thing, okay?"  Both Mulder and Scully had impressed on
Sarah that she could talk to either of them about any problems,
worries or difficulties without being judged and now seemed to be an
ideal time to remind her of it.
     "I know, Mommy," answered the little girl.
     Scully smiled.  "Good.  I think that about covers everything,
Mulder."
     "Then I think we're done."  He smiled down at his daughter.
"Come here."  Mulder opened his arms - Sarah leaned against him and he
wrapped them around her and hugged her.  He brushed his cheek against
her silken hair and said softly, "I love you, Sarah."
     "I love you too, Daddy," answered the little girl.  "Can Mommy
share our hug too?"
     "Of course she can."
     Scully squeezed closer to Sarah and they enjoyed a three way
cuddle.

     The rest of the evening passed quietly.  Mulder listened to his
daughter read for a while before the little girl had her bath and went
to bed.  Now Mulder and Scully lay in bed themselves  Scully's head
pillowed on his chest, his arm around her and his fingers stroking
lightly up and down her arm.
     "Maybe I should have sent Sarah to a private school," sighed
Mulder.  "I did think of it, when she first came to live here.  I
would have found the money somehow.  I wanted her to have the best,
Scully."
     "I know, Mulder, but all schools have their bullies, even private
ones."  Scully's fingertips traced random patterns on his chest.
"This was a one off incident  Sarah was provoked and she retaliated
in the only way she knew how, by lashing out."
     "I hope you're right."  He was quiet for a long time, and then
when he spoke it was barely audible.  "I was bullied, Scully."
     "When?" she asked, raising herself slightly to look into his
face.  This was news to her.  In all the years they had been together,
he had never shared this with her.  "Why didn't you tell me before?"
     Mulder gave a short laugh.  "It's not the sort of thing you like
to admit to, Scully.  And it was embarrassing? a strapping lad like
Fox Mulder unable to take care of himself?  Even my own father
couldn't believe my inability to stand up and 'be a man'."
     "When was this, Mulder?"
     "After Samantha disappeared," he replied softly.  "There was a
group of boys, a few from my class, some a little older, and they
would taunt me about my sister.  They'd follow me around at school,
then follow me home, all the while taunting me, calling me names?
they even told people that I'd killed Samantha."
     "Oh, Mulder."  Scully squeezed him gently, not knowing what else
to do or say.
     "They hated the fact that I had more than my fair share of
brainpower and they made my life a misery because of it.  At one
point, I even started making deliberate mistakes in my schoolwork,
trying to make myself look less intelligent than I really was."
     "What happened?" asked Scully softly.
     Mulder sighed.  "My parents were called to the school after the
consistent deterioration in my schoolwork and grades, and that's when
it all came out.  My father wasn't in the least supportive, my mother
was out of it?  I was just left hanging in the wind.  I felt totally
alone."  His voice wobbled as he said, "I don't want that for Sarah.
She's a clever little girl, Scully? I don't want her to suffer for
it."
     "She won't, Mulder.  There's much more awareness of bullying
these days, and you've taught Sarah well  she knows to go and speak
to a teacher if someone starts picking on her."
     "I guess so, Scully.  That's all I can do  as much as I want to
protect her, I can't be there with her every minute of the day."  He
combed his fingers slowly through her hair, and pressed a kiss to her
brow.  "It's late, we should get some sleep."
     Scully adjusted her position and leaned in to share a kiss, her
fingertips tracing over Mulder's cheek.  "I love you, Mulder," she
said softly.
      "I know, Scully."  Their lips touched again.  "I love you too."

      "Mommy, do you know where my Spice Girl's CD is?  I can't find
it."  Sarah had turned the living room and her bedroom upside down in
the search for her CD.  Now she stood beside her mother at the kitchen
counter.
     "Where did you leave?"  Then Scully suddenly remembered.  So much
for Mulder saying that Sarah wouldn't even notice it was gone.  That
had been two days ago.  "Your father took it, sweetheart."
     "What for?" asked the little girl.  Scully didn't miss the
anxious expression on Sarah's face. "Is Daddy going to throw my CD
away?"
     "No, Sarah.  He wanted to borrow it."
     "Why?"
     "I don't know? maybe he wanted to listen to it in the car."
     Sarah didn't think that could be right. The child was well aware
of her father's feelings on the Spice Girls and their music.  The
little girl crossed her arms and looked most disgruntled. "Daddy
should have asked me first.  He always says that I have to ask if I
want to borrow other people's things."
     Scully allowed herself a little smile at another example of her
husband not practising what he preached.  If Sarah's expression was
anything to go by, Mulder was in for a roasting when he arrived home.

     Sure enough, Sarah kept watch by the window, next to the
Christmas tree, to await her father's return.  As soon as his car
pulled into their drive, she had the front door open and was standing
on the step.
     "Hi, sweetheart.  How's my girl?"  He ran a hand over her hair
and kissed her.
     "You took my Spice Girl's CD without asking, Daddy," answered
Sarah in an accusatory tone.  "You told me that I have to ask
permission if I want to borrow something that belongs to someone
else."
     Mulder was taken aback by this greeting.  There was nothing for
it but to put his hands up and admit that he had taken the CD.  "I'm
sorry I took your CD without asking Sarah, but I wanted it for
something special."  He closed the door behind them.
     "What did you want it for, Daddy?"  The little girl was curious.
     "I'd be interested to know that too, Mulder," added Scully,
appearing at the kitchen doorway.
     "Ooh, the combined might of the Mulder women, forcing me into
revealing my secret!"  Mulder grinned as he took off his coat and laid
it over the chair in the hall. Scully shook her head.  "Come with me,
ladies, and all will be revealed."  Scully and Sarah followed Mulder
into the living room.  He reached into the box he was carrying and
removed a cassette tape, which he loaded into the sound system.  "Now,
listen very carefully."  Mulder pressed the play button and they
listened. Mulder's clandestine mission with Sarah's CD was about to be
revealed.
     Sarah was the first to recognise what they were listening to.
"It's the music to "Wannabe," she said, looking up at her father in
wonder.
     "Very clever!"  Mulder smiled and squeezed her.  "It's called a
'backing track', like you have on a karaoke machine."
     "Where did you get it, Mulder?" asked Scully.
     "From the same place I got these."  He reached into the box once
more and pulled out a state of the art radio mike on a headset, just
like the ones he and Scully sometimes used at work.  He handed it to
his daughter.  "There's one for each of you, Sarah.  Lots of famous
singers and groups use these on stage.  You'll be like a proper group
now.  If you like, you can invite the rest of your friends over on
Saturday so that you can rehearse with the headsets and the backing
track."
     "Can I, Daddy?"  Sarah regarded him expectantly.
     "Yes," he smiled.  "And tell them they're invited to stay for
something to eat."
     Sarah was off to phone her friends and tell them all about the
invite and their latest piece of fortune.
     "That was nice of you, Mulder," said Scully, wrapping her arms
around him.
     "I've been wanting to make up for Sarah's disappointment over her
costume and the idea suddenly came to me the other night.  I asked the
guys to make the backing track and they also came up with the
headsets."
     "Sarah was really worried when she couldn't find her CD.  She
thought you'd thrown it away."
     Mulder chuckled.  "No wonder I got a telling off at the door.  I
only meant to have it for that one day but that damned case came up
and I didn't get the time to see the guys."
     "You haven't given the girls much time to master this, Mulder.
The performance is only four days away."
     "I don't think they'll have any problems, Scully - they're all
quick learners and I'm sure Sarah will soon whip them into shape!"

End of Part Five

Sarah Companion: Mulder Spice 6/7
<jimcaz@dircon.co.uk>

     Time seemed to be passing quicker than ever, and Saturday was
soon upon them.  There was still much to do around the house before
Christmas actually dawned.  To Scully's amazement, Mulder had decided
to sort out some of the boxes in the den, while she was preparing a
room for her mother.  The same room, with a change of bed linen, would
be used to house Mulder's mother over the New Year.  All Scully could
hear as she went about her tasks was banging and clattering coming
from the direction of the den.  Lord knows what Mulder was doing in
there, she thought to herself as she positioned a pretty floral print
on the bedroom wall.  Probably making an already messy room ten times
worse, she figured with an affectionate smile.
     Sarah, meanwhile, was waiting for her friends to arrive.  She had
helped both her mother and father throughout the morning with their
chores, earning herself a little bit of extra pocket money in the
process for assisting with some special tasks.
     Vanessa, as usual, was the first to arrive.  Whatever other
problems the child had, she was always punctual.  Mulder and Scully
came out to say hello, then the two little girls disappeared into the
living room to await the other members of their little troupe.  As
soon as they sat down, Vanessa pulled something out of her pocket.
     "Look what I've got," she said, with an excited smile.  She held
out a small piece of greenery, with some milky white berries attached
to it.
     "What is it?" asked Sarah, taking it from her friend and
examining it.  The little sprig looked very sorry for itself.
     "It's mistletoe."
     Sarah touched the cloudy berries with a fingertip.  "Can you eat
these?"
     "No, you mustn't eat the berries.  They're poisonous."  Sarah
quickly drew her finger away and Vanessa went on to say, "If your mom
and dad stand underneath this, they have to kiss."
     That sounded like fun to Sarah.  "Let's put it up later!" she
said, her eyes sparkling.
     "Okay!"  And so the plot was hatched.

     Mulder and Scully had adjourned to the kitchen for a well earned
mug of coffee and a rest.  Mulder was aching from lifting the boxes -
some of which were heavy with his vast collection of books - and the
constant bending and stretching.
     "I ache all over, Scully," he groaned.  "Even my aches have
aches."
     Scully chuckled softly.  Trust Mulder to exaggerate his
suffering.  "I'd advise you to have a warm bath later," she replied.
     "Would you wash my back for me?" he grinned.
     "I might do."  Scully looked at him over the rim of her mug.  "If
you're really lucky, I might even give you a massage."  Mulder almost
choked on his coffee.  "With baby oil," added Scully seductively.
Mulder was now positively goggle eyed.
     "Are you serious, Scully?"
     "I could be."  She took a slow drink from her mug.  "Interested?"
Scully's eyebrow had raised in its customary manner.
     Interested?  If Sarah and Vanessa hadn't been in the next room,
he would have taken Scully up on her offer there and then.  Mulder
swallowed - hard.  "Sure."  He tried to sound vaguely nonchalant but
failed.  "And after the massage?"  Was it too much to hope that the
massage might lead to other things?
     Scully smiled.  She had him.  "Let's start with the massage and
see where it takes us, shall we?"
     Mulder nodded dumbly.  All he could think about was how long it
was until bath time.

     A couple of hours later, Mulder and Scully were in the kitchen,
setting out plates of food on the table.  They had decided to make the
meal into a small pre-show party for their daughter and her friends.
Sarah didn't know this, and had been told to keep out of the kitchen
in the same way that she had told her parents to stay out of the
living room as the group rehearsed.
     "Where do you want these, Scully?"  Mulder stood there holding a
plate of cheese straws.
     "On the side there, Mulder."  Scully pointed to a spot on the
right of the table.  She set down a bowl of dried apricots and another
of mixed nuts.  Sarah loved both and had them often in her school
lunch box rather than store bought candy.
     They could hear their daughter putting her friends through their
paces; every so often they heard Sarah pull one of them up for turning
left instead of right.
     "I never realised my daughter was such a hard taskmaster,"
commented Mulder, setting down a bowl of cottage cheese and a plate of
tortilla chips.
     "Sarah wants to win that prize, Mulder," smiled Scully.
     "Do you think she has any chance, Scully?"  Mulder looked a bit
doubtful.
     "I think she has every chance.  If they were awarding a prize for
dedication, I have no doubt that Sarah and her little group would walk
away with it."   Sarah was just like her father in that respect -
despite whatever insecurities he had in his life, if there was
something he believed in, he had confidence in it.  Mulder had clearly
passed that on to his daughter.
     "I just don't want Sarah to get over-confident.  I don't think
that I could cope with the fall out if she didn't win."
     "Well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.  I know that
Sarah would be desperately disappointed, but we'd handle it.  Don't
worry about it."  Scully took a step back and surveyed the table.
"I'll just put the pizzas on and then we're done.  Mulder, there's a
couple of 'Good Luck' banners in that cabinet - could you stick them
up for me?"
     Mulder located the banners and some adhesive tape.  "Where do you
want them, Scully?"
     "Er?"  Scully looked around.  "Stick them across the front of the
top cabinets."
     "You're sure, Scully?  You won't want something out of those
cabinets later?"
     "No.  Everything I need is either out already or in the lower
cupboards."
     "Okay.  I'll make us some coffee when I've done this."

     Neither Mulder nor Scully, being so busy in the kitchen, had
noticed that the music in the living room had stopped.
     Sarah and her cohorts had crept out into the hall and the little
girl had taken the chair by the hall table and placed it in the living
room doorway.  As Vanessa was the tallest, and the mistletoe was hers,
she had been elected to hang it.
     "Quickly, Vanessa," hissed Sarah urgently, holding the chair
steady.  Vanessa taped the ratty piece of mistletoe over the living
room doorway then swiftly clambered down off the chair.  Sarah set the
chair back in its place in the hall.
     "What are they up to out there?" said Scully, hearing furtive
whispering, giggling and rustling emanating from the hallway.
     "I think now's the time to worry," replied Mulder as it all went
quiet.  "Do you think we should investigate?"
     Scully stood.  "I'll go - you finish your coffee."
     Sarah, keeping watch, darted back into the living room as soon as
she saw Scully step out of the kitchen.  "Mommy's coming!" she hissed
and all the little girls stood quivering with anticipation.
     "You've all gone very quiet," smiled Scully, standing in the
doorway, directly beneath the mistletoe.  "Is anything wrong?"
     "No, Mommy.  We were just having a rest," said Sarah, trying hard
to convey her best innocent expression.
     Scully's brow creased slightly - she was certain they were up to
something.  "Would you like me to fix you some drinks?"
     "In a minute," answered Sarah.  Suddenly, there was a snort of
laughter from Lucy - she had been unable to contain it any longer.
Then the others started to giggle, and Scully became aware of five
pairs of eyes darting from her face to above her head and back again.
Scully slowly looked up.  A smile crept over her face as she closed
her eyes and rested her hands on her hips.  Those little minxes?
Scully opened her eyes again and saw five grinning faces looking back
at her.
     "Mulder, you'd better come here," she called.
     Immediately he came rushing out of the kitchen, not knowing what
he was going to find.  "What's the matter, Scully?"
     She waited until he got close, then pointed above her head.
Mulder's eyes travelled upwards and came to rest on the sprig of
mistletoe.  The girls erupted into excited giggling.
     "Daddy, you have to kiss Mommy!" trilled Sarah, bouncing up and
down in anticipation.
     Mulder shook his head, a wry grin on his face, and thought he'd
have a little fun.  "Do I have to?" he asked.
     "Yes, Daddy."
     "But I don't want to," he whined, putting on his best puppy dog
face.  "She might bite me.  Mommy has such sharp teeth."
    "Mulder!" cried Scully indignantly, elbowing him in the ribs.  The
girls squealed with glee.
    "You have to, Daddy," insisted Sarah.
    "Well, if that's the case? hang onto your hat, Scully."  Without
warning, he grasped Scully and dipped with her, making her shriek in
surprise.  Her head almost brushed the floor and her arms flailed in
the air, then she quickly wrapped them around him as his lips met
hers.  All they could hear were the  squeals and claps of delight from
the assembled audience.
     Eventually, Mulder let Scully up, a big grin on his face.  "You
little scamps," he said, waving a finger at the girls.  "You had us
big time."  He ruffled his daughter's hair, then turned back to
Scully.  "Shall we let them into our secret now?" he asked.
     "All right," answered Scully.
     "Come this way, ladies."  Mulder led the girls to the kitchen.
Sarah's eyes nearly popped out when she saw the spread of food and the
banners on the cabinets.
     "Are we having a party, Daddy?" she asked, her eyes alight with
anticipation.
     "Sort of," he replied.  "Mommy and I thought it would be nice to
do this to wish you all luck with the show."
     Sarah was utterly delighted at this impromptu celebration and she
gave her parents a hug each.
     "So, are you ready to eat?" asked Scully. Were they ever!

     "I thought girls were supposed to be the weaker sex, Scully.
Look at this - " Mulder spread his hand over the table, palm up.
"There's not a morsel left!  They're like a plague of locusts!"
     Scully chuckled.  "I'd rather that than five fussy eaters any
day.  They enjoy their food, Mulder, that's all."
     "They can sure pack it away - they could eat any boy under the
table, I should think."
     "They've been rehearsing all afternoon.  No doubt all that
dancing about made them ravenous.  And what's all this about girls
being the weaker sex?  Isn't that a bit sexist, Mulder?"
     Oh oh, thought Mulder - I'm in trouble.  "I was just quoting the
old adage, Scully."
     "I hope so, Mulder.  I would hate to think that you view me as
weak."  Her blue eyes skewered him like lasers.
     Mulder slipped his arms around her waist.  "Never, Scully.
You're the last person I'd want to meet in an alleyway on a dark
night."
     "Just you wait, Mulder," replied Scully as his chuckle brushed
her ear.  "You'll pay for that!"

     The day of the performance had finally arrived.  Scully had taken
the day off to help prepare Sarah for her big moment.  Mulder had
already gone by the time the little girl woke up - he had been called
down to the office early in connection with the other case he was
assisting with.
     "Daddy will be there tonight, won't he?" asked Sarah anxiously,
looking up from her honey and bran oatmeal.
     "He'll be there, sweetheart, " Scully assured her.
     After breakfast came the first of the phone calls.  It was
Margaret Scully, and she sounded dreadful.
     "Dana, I don't think I can make it tonight.  I have a terrible
cold - the last thing I want to do is pass it on to the rest of you so
close to Christmas."
     "I'm sorry you can't come, Mom, and I know Sarah will be
disappointed, but I think you're doing the right thing.  You don't
want it get worse and develop into pneumonia.  Hopefully you should be
better by Christmas."
     "I hope so, dear.  I'm looking forward to spending Christmas with
you and Fox and Sarah."
     "We're looking forward to having you here, Mom."
     "I'll let you go, Dana - I know you have a lot to do to get Sarah
ready for her big night.  Give her my love and tell her that I'm very
sorry that I'll miss her performance.  Wish her good luck? I'm sure
she'll be the best in the show."
     "I will, Mom.  You take care, and I'll call you tomorrow to see
how you are and to let you know how Sarah fares tonight."
     Sarah appeared as Scully replaced the receiver.  "Who was that,
Mommy?"
     Scully crouched down so that she was on eye level with the little
girl.  "That was Granny Margaret, sweetheart.  She called to say that
she won't be able to make it tonight - she's not well."
     "Is she still coming for Christmas?" asked Sarah.
     "Assuming Granny's well enough, she'll be here for Christmas.
She has a nasty cold and didn't want to pass it on to anyone else."
Scully saw the disappointment in the young girl's eyes and she stroked
her arm comfortingly.  "Granny sends you her love, and wishes you good
luck for tonight.  She said she knows you'll be the best in the show."
    "I wish Granny could come," said Sarah.  "She'll have to see the
video when she comes at Christmas."
     "I'm sure Granny will look forward to that, Sarah," answered
Scully.

     Sarah's transformation into Scary Spice was well under way.
She'd had a bath and hair wash and now Scully was carefully rolling up
Sarah's hair.
     "Ow, Mommy!  You pulled my hair!" griped the little girl.
     "I'm sorry sweetheart, I didn't mean to.  I have to pull it tight
to get the right effect.  I'll try not to hurt you again."
     Scully had just inserted the last roller when the phone rang
again.  This time it was Sarah's Granny Page, calling from Boston.
The little girl dashed to the phone to speak to her beloved
grandmother.  As with Granny Mulder, Sarah put in a weekly call to her
maternal grandmother to keep her up to date with all her news.
     "Granny Page!" she cried excitedly.
     "Hello darling.  How are you, Sarah?"
     "I'm very well, thank you, Granny.  How are you?"
     "I'm fine, sweetheart.  Are you excited about tonight?"
     "Yes, Granny.  I just had a bath and a hair wash and Mommy rolled
up my hair.  And guess what, Granny - Daddy got his friends to make us
a backing track and he brought home some special headsets with
microphones so that we can be like real pop stars!"
     Kathleen Page was always cheered by her granddaughter's
enthusiasm, and she was pleased that Sarah had settled down so well
with her new family and in her new surroundings.  She missed the
little girl terribly, for they were extremely close, but she knew that
Sarah was in the best place for her.  Kathleen had known all about
Annie's reservations as to Mulder's suitability as a father, but she
didn't share them, and the first time she saw Mulder with his infant
daughter she knew she had been right.  He was devoted to the child.
Neither did Kathleen agree with Annie's decision to keep Mulder at a
distance throughout her pregnancy and the birth, but Annie was
stubborn to the point of obstinacy and her wishes prevailed.
     "That's wonderful, Sarah.  I wish I could be there to see you."
     "I wish you could come too, Granny, but Daddy's going to video it
so you can see it next time we visit."
     "I'd like that, Sarah," said the old lady warmly.  "You know
sweetheart, I'm sure your mommy would be very proud of you."
     "I wish Mommy could see me," said Sarah wistfully.  "I miss her,
Granny.  I love Dana lots, but I miss Mommy.  Do you think she knows
about the show?  Do you think she'll be able to see me on the stage?"
     "I'm sure mommy knows all about your show and she'll be there
watching you.  You won't be able to see her, but she'll be able to see
you."
     "I asked Daddy about Mommy and he said that she's always with me.
She watches over me.  Does that mean Mommy's like an angel?"
     "I suppose it does," answered Sarah's granny.  "She'll always
take care of you and guide you, sweetheart.  Mommy loved you very
much."  There was a slight quaver in the old lady's voice as she
spoke, then a short silence as she collected herself.  "I'd better go
now, sweetheart."
     "All right, Granny.  When will I see you again?"
     "I don't know, dear.  Maybe you can come to visit sometime in the
New Year."  One thing Kathleen was grateful for was Mulder's
willingness for Sarah to maintain contact with her maternal family.
There was never any problem or argument about the little girl going to
Boston to visit her other relatives.
     "I'll ask Daddy if you can come and stay with us next time.  You
can see our new house and my new bedroom."
     "That would be nice, Sarah.  Your new house looked very pretty
from the photos you sent me."  Granny Page paused.  "I have to go now,
sweetheart.  Good luck for tonight - I know you'll do your very best.
Will you call me tomorrow and let me know who won?"
     "I'm going to win, Granny."  Sarah was most definite about that.
     "I'm sure you are, darling," chuckled the old lady.  "You take
care now, Sarah, and give my regards to Dana and your father."
     "Okay.  I love you, Granny."
     "I love you too, sweetheart."

     Sarah stood completely still as Scully applied the temporary
tanning lotion to the little girl's arms, hands, neck and shoulders;
then moving on to her ankles and the tops and sides of her feet - the
only parts of Sarah's body that would be exposed.  The colour would
take a couple of hours to develop and Scully hoped that it would be a
passable imitation of Scary Spice's dusky hue.  Sarah would look like
a patchwork quilt for a couple of days, until the tan faded, but
Scully felt the extra effort was worth it.  If something was worth
doing, it was worth doing well.
     "What do we do now, Mommy?" asked Sarah.
     "I think we'll have some lunch, then in a little while I'll see
how your hair's coming along."  The little girl's hair was long and
lush and Scully knew it would take longer than usual to dry with
rollers in it.  She only hoped that Sarah's hair would hold the curl
after all the hard work she'd put into it.
     They'd just finished their pasta salad when the telephone rang
yet again.
      "I'll get it, Mommy.  It might be Daddy."  Sarah slipped off her
chair and trotted to the phone, lifting the receiver.  "Mulder
residence."  There was a brief pause and then, "Granny Mulder!"
     "Hello, Sarah."  The well modulated tones were warm as Helen
addressed her granddaughter.  "I thought I'd call to wish you luck for
tonight."
     "Thank you, Granny," answered the child.
     "I'm sorry I can't be there to see you, darling - I'm sure your
performance will be excellent."
     "Daddy's going to video it, so you can see it when you come at
New Year's."
     "I'm already looking forward to it," replied Helen.  "Did you
know that your father was in a few school productions when he was a
boy?"
     "No, Granny.  Can you tell me about them?"  This revelation was
very interesting to the little girl.
     "It'll take too long to tell you now, Sarah - how about I tell
you all about it when I see you after Christmas?"
     "Do you promise, Granny?"
     "I promise, sweetheart."  Helen knew that even if she forgot, her

granddaughter would remind her.   "I think I even have some pictures."
     "Can you bring them with you?" asked Sarah eagerly.  She couldn't
wait to see the photos of her father as a boy, and in costume.  In
contrast to Scully, Mulder had hardly any photographic souvenirs of
his family or his growing up, other than the pictures of Samantha.
The bulk of the Mulder photographic archive was in his mother's
possession - when Mulder had finally left home all those years ago,
he'd taken only the prints of his sister.  She was the only thing that
mattered or meant anything to him at the time.
     "If I can find them, I'll bring them," answered Helen.  "Well,
I'd better go now, darling.  Have a wonderful evening, and give me a
call to let me know how you get on."
     "I will, Granny.  I love you."
     "I love you too, sweetheart.  Bye now."

     "Sweetheart, you have to sit still while I put this make up on
you.  I don't want it to smudge," said Scully.  She knew it must be
difficult for the usually active little girl to keep still for what
seem like forever.  She couldn't blame her for fidgeting.
     "How long will it take, Mommy?"
     "It'll take as long as it takes, Sarah.  We want it to look
right, don't we?"  Scully glanced again at the head and shoulders
magazine shot of Scary Spice.  She'd had the foresight to keep it by
her for reference.  Scully picked up the cosmetic sponge and dabbed a
little more bronzing powder onto Sarah's cheeks.  She had put it all
over the little girl's face, blending it away to the neck - luckily
Scully had been able to find an almost perfect match with the fake tan
so hopefully solving the problem of tidemarks.  Scully took a step
back, and satisfied that she had the skin tone about right, she moved
on to Sarah's eyes.
     "When can we see what my hair looks like?" asked the little girl
     "When I've finished your make up," replied Scully.  "Close your
eyes for a moment, Sarah."  Scully applied some neutral coloured
eyeshadow all over Sarah's lids and browbone.  "That's good,
sweetheart.  Keep them closed for just a little longer."  Next Scully
applied some sparkly silver shadow, just like Scary was wearing in the
magazine picture.
     "This is boring, Mommy."  Sarah swung her long legs back and
forth under the table.
     "I know it is, honey, but you want to look good, don't you?"
     Sarah forgot she was supposed to keep still and she nodded.
     "What did I just say, Sarah?  You must keep still, sweetheart!  I
nearly poked your eye out with the mascara brush just then."
     "Sorry, Mommy."   The child looked suitably contrite.
     "It's okay, Sarah.  It is boring, I know, but I've nearly
finished.  I'm just going to put a little bit of mascara on the ends
of your lashes, so you'll have to look up for me."
     Sarah did that and asked, "Can I have my ears pierced, Mommy?"
     "I don't know, sweetheart.  Could you just look down for me now?
You'll have to ask your father."
     "But he might say no."
     "Well, you won't know until you ask him, will you?" answered
Scully, capping the mascara.  She was just about to pick up the
lipstick when the phone jangled.  As they were in the kitchen, she
took the call there.  It was Mulder.
     "Hi there.  How's it going?" he asked.  "How's the budding star?"
     "Fine.  It's going very well. How are things with you?  Will you
be able to get away on time?"
     "I'll be there, Scully."
     "Okay.  You want a quick word with Sarah?"
     "I can't now, Scully.  I've got a call waiting on another line.
I ring back in a little while."  With that, the line went dead.

Scully and Sarah took the opportunity for a short break after
Mulder's call, and had a drink and an apricot and oatmeal square each.
Scully had made them and Sarah loved them.
     "Can I have another one, please?" asked the little girl,
regarding her mother hopefully.
     How could Scully refuse?  "All right."  She passed the container
to her daughter, who dipped her hand in and brought out one of the
chewy titbits.
     "I like your oatmeal squares and cookies, Mommy.  And your
brownies.  You're the best cook in the world."
     "Thank you, Sarah."  A broad smile lit up Scully's face and she
carefully patted the child's cheek, mindful of the make up that
covered it.  It thrilled Scully to know that Mulder and Sarah were
appreciative of her cooking.  She'd never really bothered when she was
alone, but once Mulder and his daughter had come into her life, she
had resurrected the skills she had learned at her mother's side.
Scully reckoned she was a competent cook - she was far better at it
than her sister Melissa had ever been.  She'd had no interest in
matters domestic whatsoever.
     Time was getting on, and once Sarah had finished her drink and
oatmeal square, it was back to their preparations.  Scully applied
some lipstick to Sarah's generous, full Mulder lips, blotted, then
applied another layer. Now all that was left to deal with was Sarah's
hair.
     Scully carefully undid the small rollers one by one.  There
seemed to be hundreds of them, although that wasn't the case in
reality.  It appeared that way because Sarah had a lot of hair to deal
with.  Eventually, and to Scully's relief, she reached the last one.
She ran her fingers gently through Sarah's hair to separate the
curls - she didn't want to risk using a brush or comb in case it made
the curls drop out.
     "You're all done, sweetheart.  You can put the pants and shoes on
now."
     Sarah was already wearing the little top, covered by a towel.
Scully hadn't wanted to risk getting make up on it.  The little girl
pulled on the skin tight pants, then stepped into the shoes.
     "How do I look, Mommy?"
     "I have a few other things yet," answered Scully, and from a bag
she removed a silver arm bangle, which fitted Sarah's upper arm, and
several silver rings to fit different fingers.
     "Can I go and look now?" Sarah had no idea what she looked like -
Scully had wanted it to be a complete surprise - and the little girl
was anxious to see the transformation.
     "Okay," chuckled Scully.  "You can go and look now."
     Sarah was gone in an instant, with Scully trailing behind.

     Sarah stared at herself in her mother's full length mirror for a
long time, not sure that the person looking back at her was really
her.
     "Mommy!" she exclaimed.
     "What do you think, sweetheart?"  Scully was just as anxious to
hear Sarah's verdict on all her hard work.
     Sarah took in the dusky coloured skin, the make-up and the
cascade of corkscrew curls.  She turned this way and that, walked
forward to peer closely into the mirror and examine her eye make-up
then stepped back again.
     "Sarah?"
     "I like it, Mommy.  It looks good," replied the child.
     "Let me rake your curls a little more."  Scully picked up an Afro
comb and gently teased the curls to make them look more tousled.
"There, is that better?"
     "That looks better, Mommy."
      "Good.  Put your sweat pants and fleece top on over your
costume.  It'll keep you warm and stop anything happening to your
costume."  Once Sarah had done that, Scully said, "I'm going to get
ready now, so you go and sit in the living room."


End of Part Six

Sarah Companion: Mulder Spice 7/7
<jimcaz@dircon.co.uk>

     Sarah was almost at the living room when the telephone rang.
     "Could you get that, Sarah," called Scully.
     The little girl picked up the receiver and gave her customary
announcement.  It was her father again.
     "Daddy!"
     "Hi sweetheart.  How you doin'?"
     "I'm fine, Daddy.  I had lots of phone calls today.  Granny
Mulder and Granny Page called me to wish me luck and that they wished
they could see me tonight but I told them they can see the video.
Daddy, can Granny Page come and visit us after Christmas?"
     "I don't see why not, Sarah, but we'll talk a bit more about it
later, okay?"
     "Okay.  Daddy, can I have my ears pierced?"
     "I don't know, sweetheart.  I'll have to think about it.  How
about we talk about that later, too?"
     "All right, Daddy."
     "That's good.  Look, I have to go now.  Break a leg, okay?"
     Sarah was horrified.  "I can't break my leg, Daddy!  I won't be
able to be in the show!"
     At the other end of the phone, Mulder chuckled.  "I didn't mean
it literally, Sarah.  "Break a leg" is how people wish you good luck
if you're in show business."
     "So you're wishing me good luck, Daddy?"
     "Yes."
     "But you will be there tonight, won't you?"  The anxious tone was
back.
     "Of course I will, Sarah, but I probably won't arrive at the
school until after you and Mommy."
     "Okay."
     "All right.  Now I really have to go, sweetheart.  I'll see you
tonight.  Love you."
     "Love you too, Daddy."

     Sarah and Scully were finally ready to get underway.  Scully
checked her purse one last time, then put on her coat.  The headsets,
backing tape and video camera were in a bag by the front door, along
with the make-up for touching up purposes, and Sarah picked them up on
their way out. They chatted amiably as Scully drove.
     "Mommy, did you know that Daddy had been in school plays and
things when he was a boy?"
     "No, sweetheart," replied Scully, glancing sideways at her
daughter.  "Who told you that?"
     "Granny Mulder."
     "Oh."  Scully couldn't imagine that Mulder had divulged this
interesting snippet of information.  There was still so much she
didn't know where Mulder was concerned, but she never pressed him.
Now and again he would reveal another painful piece of his past to
her, and she would comfort and soothe him until the next time.
     "Granny said that she'll tell me all about it when she comes to
stay.  She has pictures too, and if she can find them, she's going to
bring them with her."
     Scully smiled to herself.  Mulder will just love that, she
thought to herself.  She knew he'd want to cringe with embarrassment,
or curl up and die.  Her mind ran riot, wondering what sort of roles
Mulder had played, or who he might have impersonated at the school
talent show - probably Elvis, she decided with another smile.  Or one
of the characters from the original "Star Trek" series.  Would it have
been Spock, with his logical mind?  She could just see Mulder
practising his Vulcan mind meld.  The possibilities were too numerous
to contemplate.

     Scully pulled up at the school and she and Sarah alighted from
the car, collected their equipment and headed into the building.  Many
of the other participating children and parents were already there,
and Scully could see Mrs Vanderhelm amongst the milling bodies, a
short distance away
    "Look, Mommy - there's Carla."  With that, Sarah was off, dragging
her mother along with her.  As they neared the pair, Sarah called out
to her friend.  "Carla!"
    The little girl turned and at first didn't recognise her friend.
Then she saw Scully coming along in Sarah's wake.  "Mommy, look - it's
Sarah!"  Mrs Vanderhelm turned, and her mouth fell open.  If there had
been a prize for best costume, Sarah would have won it, she decided.
     "Hello, Sarah," said the older woman.  "We didn't recognise you!
Your costume is wonderful!  Who did your make-up?"
     "Mommy did it," replied the little girl proudly.
     "You've done an excellent job, Mrs Mulder."
     "Thank you, and please call me Dana."
     "I'd like that, Dana.  I'm Peggy."
     "You look good, too, Carla," said Scully.  The tiny little girl's
fine blonde hair was tied up in pigtails, just like Baby Spice's, and
she wore a strappy little white dress, with the accompanying wedge
platform shoes like Sarah.  Carla also sported sparkly eyeshadow like
her friend's.
     "Thank you," answered the child shyly.  She turned to Sarah.  "Is
your daddy coming?"
     "He's coming later," replied Sarah.  "Is yours coming?"
     Carla shook her head, her pigtails swinging from side to side.
"He's in France, on business."  Peter Vanderhelm worked in computers,
but Scully wasn't quite sure just exactly what it was that he did.
"But he called me to wish me luck."
     "So did my Daddy, and my Grannies," said Sarah.
     Scully interrupted them briefly.  "I think Vanessa's just
arrived."
     Sarah and Carla went to find their other friend, who soon joined
the little group along with Eileen Castle, her foster mother.  More
pleasantries were exchanged between the mothers and more praise came
Scully and Sarah's way for Sarah's costume.  Vanessa looked very much
the part of Sporty Spice, with her black lycra cycling shorts and
little red cropped top.  On her feet she wore running shoes and on her
arm she had a removable tattoo of a cross.
    Soon, the whole group had gathered, Cindy and Lucy arriving
together with their mothers.  Cindy was taking the part of Ginger
Spice, and she was wearing a red dress with a matching sequinned
bolero over the top.  It had been easy for Cindy to come up with a
costume - she took part in Latin American dancing classes and
competitions so she just chose one of her dancing costumes.  Lastly,
there was Lucy as Posh Spice.  Lucy wore black pants and a black top,
with shoes similar to those worn by the rest of the little troupe.
     The combined noise of the children and parents was getting louder
and louder, making it difficult to have any sort of conversation.
Finally, Peggy Vanderhelm suggested that it was time they moved back
stage.
     "Can we stay here for a little while?" Sarah asked her mother.
"I want to see if Daddy comes."
     "All right, but we can't leave it too long before you go
backstage," replied Scully.  "I'll have to touch up your make-up
before I let you go."

     They waited as long as they could, then Scully suggested gently
that they join the others.
     "Where's Daddy?" asked Sarah anxiously.  "He will be here, won't
he?"
     "Yes, he'll be here," answered Scully, running a hand over the
child's hair.  "Come on, the others will be waiting for you
backstage."
     Scully and Sarah found the others, then Scully sought out Mrs
Lucas, Sarah's teacher.  She handed over the backing track, giving the
woman instructions on how to use it, then returned to Sarah's side.
Scully retouched her daughter's make-up and raked her hair again.  The
girls' excitement was infectious and Scully found herself tingling
with anticipation.
     An announcement came over the PA system for all parents to leave
the backstage area and take their seats - the show would begin in
fifteen minutes time.
     "I have to go now, Sarah," said Scully.
     "Okay, Mommy."
     Scully hugged her daughter as best she could, then dropped a kiss
on the child's hair.  "Good luck, sweetheart."

     Scully and the other mothers made their way to the main hall,
where the performance was to take place.  These events were always
well attended by the parents, whether or not they had a child taking
part, and tonight was no exception.  Scully quickly found herself a
seat and made herself comfortable, picking up and studying the
programme that had been left on the chair.  There was quite a mixed
bag of acts, and Sarah's troupe was about half way down the list.
While she was waiting, Scully got out the video camera and checked
once more that it was loaded with film and that it was working
properly.  The battery was fully charged and she had the spare in the
bag in case something went wrong with the other one.  Satisfied that
all was as it should be, Scully settled back to wait for Mulder.

     Mulder glanced at his watch.  He'd have just about enough time to
make it before the show started.  The agent in charge wasn't best
pleased when Mulder upped and left, but it was too bad.  He had
something far more important than work to attend to.  Mulder smiled to
himself.  He had a life now and there were things in that life that
meant more to him than work.
     Mulder drove along happily, his thumbs tapping on the steering
wheel in time with a song on the radio.  Suddenly, and without
warning, another car came whizzing out of nowhere and hit Mulder's
vehicle, sending it slewing across the road.
     "Shit!"  Mulder wrestled with the wheel, trying to gain control.
The other vehicle had come to a halt as soon as it hit Mulder's.   He
brought the car to a stop and got out to inspect the damage, and was
confronted by a pretty big dent in the front wing on the driver's
side.  "God damn it!" yelled Mulder, smacking the hood.  He started
pacing and muttering obscenities under his breath, fingers stroking
his brow rapidly.  By now the driver of the other car had got out and
Mulder could see that he was just a teenager.
     The youngster took one look at Mulder's angry expression and was
tempted to run.  "I'm sorry, mister," he said, his voice barely
audible.
     "What the hell were you doing?" yelled Mulder, his arms waving
wildly in the air.
     "I'm sorry, I didn't see you?"
     "You didn't see me!?  What the hell do you have eyes for?"
     "I'm sorry?"  The poor boy quaked in his boots at the thought of
what Mulder might do to him.
     "Are you old enough to drive?" barked Mulder, peering at him.
Either he was getting old or drivers were getting younger by the year.
     "Yes sir, I have my licence."
     "Show me."
     The boy fumbled in his wallet and pulled out his licence, handing
it to Mulder, who examined it in great detail.  "Are you going to call
the police?" asked the boy in a small voice.
    "I should do," answered Mulder gruffly.  "But I don't have the
time right now."  He knew that if he didn't make Sarah's show he'd be
dead meat.  "We'll exchange particulars and leave it at that."  Even
so, Mulder made a point of making sure the boy saw his badge and ID.
     "You're a Fed?"  The boy quaked again, suddenly realising that
Mulder was probably packing a gun as well as his badge and ID.
     "Yeah, I'm a Fed, but this is your lucky night.  Right now, I'm
off duty and there's somewhere else I should be, so if you don't
mind?"
     The exchange of particulars took place without further ado.

     Mulder pulled up at the school with a screech of tyres.  He
quickly got out of the car and locked it, then ran into the school
building, his long overcoat billowing out behind him.  His footsteps
ricocheted loudly off  the tiled floor as he darted down the corridor
towards the hall.

     Scully glanced for the hundredth time at her watch and turned yet
again to scan the entrance to the hall.  Where on earth was Mulder?
The show was well under way, and she couldn't even get out to call him
on his cellphone.  She'd flay him alive if he missed Sarah's big
moment.  Scully hoped that the little girl couldn't see out into the
audience  she knew that Sarah would get anxious and start to panic if
her father wasn't there.  She turned her attention back to the stage
and carried on hoping.  Suddenly Mulder slid into the seat beside her.
     "You cut it a bit fine, Mulder," she hissed.
     "I'm here now, aren't I?" he hissed back.
     "What's the matter?"  Scully turned as best she could to look at
him.
     "Nothing."  He pursed his lips.
     "Mulder, what are you not telling me?"
     "Not now, Scully."
     Someone behind them asked them to be quiet, but Scully would not
be put off.  Her voice dropped a few notes lower.
     "Mulder?"
     "I had an accident on the way, all right?"
     Scully was immediately concerned, her hands reaching towards him.
"Are you hurt, Mulder?  What happened?"
     He took hold of her hands to reassure her.  "I'm fine, Scully.  A
teenager ran into me?"
     "Was he hurt?  How's your car?"
     "No, he's fine.  The car will need to go into the workshop for
repair."
     Scully clutched his hand.  "I'm just glad you're in one piece.  I
was worried that you weren't going to make it."
     Finally a smile graced his features.  "I knew I'd be a dead man
if I didn't."  He squeezed her hand.  "And that was before you even
got hold of me."  He grinned and Scully had to smile.  "When's Sarah
on?"
     Scully consulted the little programme.  "Two more and then she's
up."
     Mulder nodded.  "Do you have the video camera?"
     "It's all ready to go."  Scully handed it to him.
     He suddenly noticed that Margaret Scully was absent.  "Where's
your mom?"
     "Not well.  I'll tell you later."

     They sat through the next two acts - a short playlet written by
the performers and an exceptionally polished rendition of "Moonlight
Sonata"  from one of the older students.  Both were well received,
particularly the pianist.  Now, finally, it was time for Sarah and her
friends to appear.
     "Are you ready with the video camera, Mulder?" whispered Scully.
     "All set," he replied.
     Miss Payne, the teacher who had been responsible for organising
the talent show, stepped out onto the stage to introduce the next act.
     "And now, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; singing
"Wannabe",  please give a warm welcome to our very own Spice Girls!"
     Sarah, Vanessa, Cindy, Lucy and Carla bounded out to applause
from the audience and took their places on the stage.
     Mulder's eyes almost popped out of his head.  Was that really
Sarah up there?  Was that dusky skinned, wild haired child really his
little girl?  A stunned Mulder leaned towards his wife.
     "Scully, is that make-up on Sarah's face?"
     "Yes, Mulder."
     "Where did it come from?"
     Scully gave a little cough.  "I did it for her."
     "Scully, I thought I said?"
     "I know what you said, Mulder but you never said anything about
no make-up.  Let's argue about it later, okay?"  She didn't want him
spoiling Sarah's big moment.
     "Scully?"
     "Shut up, Mulder."
     He had no other choice, for at that moment the lights went down,
the music began and for the girls, there was no turning back.

     Yo, I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
     So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
     I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want,
     So tell me what you want, what you really really want,
     I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna really
     Really, really, wanna zigazig ha

     If you want my future, forget my past,
     If you wanna get with me, better make it fast,
     Now don't go wasting my precious time,
     Get your act together, we could be just fine

     The little girls moved in perfect co-ordination, like a well
oiled machine.  Each one stepped forward in turn to sing their lines,
the headsets giving them a very professional look.  They also had what
amounted to a rudimentary light show to accompany their performance.

     So here's a story from A to Z, you wanna get with me you gotta
listen carefully,
     We got Em in the place who likes it in your face,
     We got G like MC who likes it on an
     Easy V doesn't come for free, she's a real lady,
     And as for me you'll see,
     Slam your body down and wind it all around
     Slam your body down and wind it all around.

     "I hope you're getting all this, Mulder," whispered Scully out of
the side of her mouth.
     "I am, I am," he hissed back.  He had no idea that Sarah and her
friends would be this good.  He had never felt prouder of his little
girl than at that moment.
     And then it was all over.  The applause was thunderous, and
no-one clapped louder than Mulder and Scully - Mulder even going so
far as to stick two fingers in his mouth and whistling, receiving a
dig in the ribs and a glare from Scully for his trouble.  Sarah and
her troupe were the hit of the evening.  The five little girls stood
on the stage beaming at their reception, then took a bow and skipped
off.

     The rest of the acts passed in a blur for Mulder.  He still
couldn't believe the show that his daughter and her friends had put
on.  As far as he was concerned, if Sarah and her troupe didn't win a
prize, there was no justice.
     The last act left the stage, and Miss Payne came once more to the
front.  "Ladies and gentlemen, that was our last act for tonight.  In
a few moments, the Principal, Mrs Whitworth, will announce the prize
winners.  Thank you."
     "How do you think they'll judge the competition, Scully?" asked
Mulder, putting the video camera back into the bag.
     "I have no idea, Mulder," she replied, turning to smile at him.
"Wasn't Sarah marvellous?  I think the grannies will enjoy seeing that
video."
     "Speaking of grannies, what's the story with your mom?"
     "She called this morning - she's suffering from a nasty cold and
didn't want to risk passing it on."
     "Does that mean she won't be joining us for Christmas?"  Mulder
wore a gleeful expression on his face.  Scully shot him a look that
would have nailed him at fifty paces.  "I'm kidding, Scully.  I'm very
fond of your mom.  She's always treated me well, like one of the
family."  He smiled and took Scully's hand.  "I think she knew how I
felt about you before I did."
     "I think that goes for both of us, Mulder.  My mother is nothing
if not intuitive."

    The general buzz of conversation died down again as Mrs Whitworth
came out onto the stage, with all the acts following behind her.
    "Mulder, I think you'd better get the video out again - just in
case," said Scully.  If Sarah and her friends happened to win a prize,
Scully would hate for the little girl not to see her moment of glory.
    He reached down and took it out of the sports bag once more, just
as the Principal started to speak.
    "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I'm happy to see so many of
you here tonight to support the school talent show.  I'm sure you will
agree that we've seen many wonderful and varied performers this
evening, and I'd like you to join me in giving them all a round of
applause for their efforts."  The whole hall erupted into loud
applause, and when it finally went quiet, Mrs Whitworth continued.
"With so many wonderful acts and performers of such a high standard,
it's been a very difficult task to choose the winners."
     "Have you got that tape running, Mulder?" asked Scully in a low
voice.
     "Yeah," he replied.  He kept the video camera trained on the
stage.
     The presentation of the prizes seemed to go on forever.  Mulder
was on tenterhooks, getting fidgety and wondering why Sarah's group
hadn't yet won anything.
     Then Mrs Whitworth said, "The winners of our final prize worked
very hard to produce a polished and near professional performance, and
I'm sure you will agree that their win is well deserved.  Ladies and
gentlemen, first prize in the Highlands Elementary School Christmas
Talent Show goes to? the Spice Girls!"
     The applause was once again thunderous, and Sarah's little troupe
all stood there, momentarily stunned.  Then it hit them and they all
started jumping around, smiling and squealing.  Mulder also felt like
dancing around and squealing and he probably would have if he hadn't
been holding the video camera.  Scully's eyes filled with tears, and
she reached out and squeezed Mulder's leg.  She was so proud of their
daughter, and she could only imagine how Mulder must have been
feeling.
     His eyes were also filled with tears and his heart was so swollen
with pride that he felt it was about to leap out of his chest.  How
could he ever have had any doubts about Sarah winning?  Her
competitive streak came from him - she had to be the best, no matter
what it took.
     On stage, the girls were being presented with their prizes and
Mulder was capturing it all for posterity.  Another round of applause
rang around the hall, and then died away as Miss Payne came to the
microphone and announced that refreshments were available in the
school cafeteria.

     Mulder collected two paper cups of coffee for himself and Scully.
"I can't believe it, Scully," he said, handing her one of the cups.
"She won? Sarah won."
     "You better believe it, Mulder.  Sarah worked really hard for
this.  She thoroughly deserved to win."
     He was still stunned by the way the little girl had approached
it.  "Sarah organised it all, Scully - she knocked them into a
cohesive unit.  Did you see the smooth way they moved?"
     Scully smiled.  She hadn't heard Mulder so enthusiastic in a long
while.  "They were wonderful, Mulder, and the headsets made them look
very professional.  Getting those was a stroke of genius on your
part."
     He looked pleased with that.  "So, tell me what other gems I
missed before I arrived."
     "Let me see? an acrobat, a juggler, a young boy on the guitar -
he was very good; a young girl doing Madonna's "Material Girl"? she
was good, too.  She had the blonde wig, pink sheath dress and the faux
diamond jewellery.  Some of these kids, Mulder, they're so talented
and inventive."
     "I can be talented and inventive," he murmured in her ear.  When
she looked up at him, his mouth curved into a lazy smile.
     "I'll have to put that to the test some time," she smiled back at
him.

     Sarah came bounding over to her parents.  "Mommy!  Daddy!  We
won!"  She was proudly flourishing the book token she had won as her
prize.
     "Wait a minute," said Mulder, a twinkle in his eye.  "Do we know
you?"
     Sarah looked up at him, confused, while Scully had to turn away
to hide a smile.  "I'm Sarah," replied the little girl.
     "No, you can't be Sarah."  Mulder was shaking his head.
     "I am, Daddy."
     "No, our Sarah doesn't have all this hair.  Are you sure it's not
a wig?"  Mulder tugged gently on the little girl's hair.
     "Daddy!"
     "And what's all this on your face?  Is it dirt?"
     "It's make-up," replied Sarah indignantly.  "Look."  She wet a
finger and rubbed it over her skin, leaving a white mark.  "See?  It
comes off."
     "Hmm - I guess you must be our Sarah then."
     "I am, Daddy - I'm Sarah Elizabeth Page Mulder."
     "Do you think this young lady is who she says she is, Scully?"
      "I think so, Mulder."
     "Well, you'd better come here so that I can give you a big hug."
Mulder opened his arms and Sarah jumped into them happily.  He
squeezed her tight and kissed her, then squeezed her again.  "I am so
proud of you, sweetheart."
     "So am I, Sarah," added Scully, wrapping her arms around her
husband and daughter as  far as they would reach.

     Scully made sure Sarah was wrapped up in her sweat pants and
fleece top before they headed outside.  The little girl ran ahead of
her parents to open the car.
       Mulder took Scully's hand in his and fingered her wedding ring
as they walked across the schoolyard.  "I owe you an apology, Scully.
You were right and I was wrong."
      "Mulder?"
      "Hear me out, Scully? when I saw Sarah on the stage, saw her
face and how much she was enjoying herself, I knew you were right
about the make-up and all.  The girls had worked so hard? it would
have been wrong of me to ruin it."
     "Did Sarah's costume meet with your approval?"
      "Yeah, it was fine.  She looked real good.  You did an excellent
job, Scully."
     "Thank you, Mulder."

     Sarah chattered away nineteen to the dozen on the journey home.
She was still on a high from the show and her win, and Mulder thought
they'd have a job putting her to bed that night.
     "Mommy, how long will it take for the fake tan to wash off?" she
asked.
     "Fake tan?" queried Mulder.  "What fake tan?"
     "Mommy put fake tan on my arms and things to make me look more
like Scary Spice," answered Sarah before Scully could get a word in.
     "I see."  Mulder glanced down at Scully, who looked up to meet
his eyes.
     "It'll wash off in a few days," she said.  "I just thought it
would look more authentic?"  Scully hoped that he wasn't about to go
ballistic over the fake tan.
     "It's okay, Scully.  I think it was a great idea."
     Scully let out the breath she'd been holding.
     "I'm going to call my grannies tomorrow and tell them that we
won," said Sarah.
     "I think they'll be delighted, sweetheart," said Mulder.  "I know
they would all liked to have been here to see you tonight."
     It was all quiet for a moment and then Sarah asked, "Daddy, can I
have my ears pierced?  You said we could talk about it later.  Is now
later enough?"
     Mulder had to chuckle.  "Now is later enough, Sarah.  You know it
hurts when you have your ears pierced?"
     "I know, Daddy.  Susie Kim had hers done and she said that it
hurt.  Not when they make the hole, but afterwards.  They were sore
and infected a bit and she had to bathe them with antiseptic.  You
have to keep moving the earring too, so that the little hole doesn't
close up."
     Mulder was impressed.  He hadn't realised that Sarah had
researched it so thoroughly.  He turned to his wife.  "What do you
think, Scully?"
     "I think it's your call, Mulder."
     He thought for a moment, then looked in the rearview mirror at
his daughter, who was sitting on the edge of her seat awaiting his
answer.  "Okay, here's the deal.  How about we get your ears pierced
for your eighth birthday?"
     "Yeah!"  Sarah punched the air.  "Thank you, Daddy."
     "You're welcome, sweetheart."  Mulder signalled a turn and pulled
into their drive.  "Ah, here we are - home, sweet home."

      As Sarah alighted from the car, a few random flakes of snow
fell.  "It's snowing!" she cried joyously.  Mulder didn't move, he
just stared at the house.  The wreath graced the front door and the
Christmas tree was visible through the living room window.  Sarah,
meanwhile, danced around in the falling snowflakes, her arms
outstretched.
     "You coming, Mulder?" asked Scully.
     "In a moment, Scully? I just want to take a minute?"  His eyes
continued to gaze out of the windshield.
     "What is it?"  Scully's enquiry was a near whisper, and when
Mulder turned to her, his eyes were watery.
     "I just?  I never thought I'd have this, Scully.  I always
thought this - " he gestured in a vague semi-circle.  "I always
thought this would elude me.  I never thought that it would ever be
mine.  A house, a wife and family? that sort of thing only happens to
other people, Scully.  It doesn't happen to Fox Mulder."
     "But it has happened, Mulder," answered Scully softly, reaching
for his hand and entwining her fingers with his.
     "Yes, it has."  He lifted her hand and kissed the back of it.  "I
have something I never felt worthy of or thought I deserved.  For the
first time in my life, I am really, truly happy.  I love you, Scully.
I love you with all my heart, with my soul."
     Scully didn't know what to say, and even if she did, she wasn't
sure that she could get the words out because of the lump in her
throat.  All she could do was squeeze his hand in hers.  Mulder smiled
at her and made the slightest movement with his head.  He understood
perfectly.  Mulder's arms wrapped around her and he kissed her hair.
"I'm really looking forward to this Christmas, Scully."
     "Me too, Mulder."
     They walked towards the house, arms around one another's waist.
     Mulder glanced down at his wife, the merest twinkle apparent in
his eye.  "Scully, you never did tell me who your teen idol was."
     Scully gave him a teasing smile in return.  "I think I'll save
that story for another day, Mulder."

The End