From: Spookyteacher Date: Sun, 23 Dec 2001 15:39:58 GMT Subject: New: Together Apart: Their First Christmas (4 of ?) Source: atxc Title: Together Apart: Their First Christmas (4 of ?) Author: Spookyteacher E-mail: spkyteach@aol.com Archiving: Gossamer -Yes! You can archive anywhere else as long as all these headers are attached. And please let me know where it's at... I want to visit! Rating: PG-13 (sexual situation) Spoilers: US9 Category: V Subcategory: MSR, A Summary: The next installment in the Together Apart series. It's Christmas. Do you know where your Mulder and Scully are? You can find the first three installments (I Need To Know, Sister's Spooky's Reply, and The New Deal) at my site, Spookyteacher's Stories (www.geocities.com/spookyteacherfanfic). This series takes place during Season Nine. Disclaimer: Everyone else is so clever with this... Chris Carter, Fox, Ten Thirteen, David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, et al: I'm just borrowing them, guys. I promise I'll return them in almost new condition after playing with them. Besides, I'm a teacher; how are you gonna get any amount of money from a teacher?! Feedback: Please! spookyteachr@home.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Together Apart: Their First Christmas (4 of?) By Spookyteacher ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Merry Christmas, Sister Spooky. I can't believe it's already Christmas Eve. I hate being this far apart especially tonight. Hope you got the stuff I sent through the guys. Of course, I know you won't open it until tomorrow. You know I couldn't wait. Tell the guys I did not appreciate the Close Encounters video. I love my new Knicks sweatshirt. My favorite gift of all is the VCR and video. Thank you so much. He's growing so fast! I love his hair. And that laugh! If there was any way I could, you know I'd be there tonight. Give him a big hug and a kiss from his old man. I love you. George" Scully didn't even wipe the tears from her face. They were all she had of him right now and she was going to relish them. This was the fourth time she'd read the message posted at the alt.sport.basketball newsgroup and she knew she'd read it numerous more times before morning. His last message at alt.duke.basketball had been reread countless times. She'd get no sleep tonight. She clicked off from the Internet and walked over to the window. There was no white Christmas in D.C. this year. It was a clear night and the moon cast a warm glow amid the Christmas lights in her neighborhood. Her mind played over Mulder's note and imagined him standing in front of her. She could see his face, eyes and mouth smiling at her. She could even hear his voice saying her name. She was pulled from her reverie as something on the street caught her eye. A white van was parked just down from her building. She knew that van. 'They delivered the presents hours ago. Why were they here now?' she wondered. The knock on the door told her that question was about to be answered. She crossed past the Christmas tree to the door and peeked through the peephole. She quickly unlocked the door and opened it. "What are you guys doing back here?" she asked, sounding more perturbed than she really was. "We forgot a gift," Langly explained in a low voice as he pushed past Scully. She followed him. "What gift?" She looked from Langly to Frohike, who was just coming through the door. "One we couldn't deliver earlier with Skinman here," Frohike explained. Byers followed Frohike inside and shut the door behind him. Scully looked at Frohike expectantly. "Well, where is it?" "Right here." The voice got her attention, as she'd heard it just moments ago in her head. She looked at Byers and realized it was not Byers at all. Her eyes widened and a wide smile filled her face. "Merry Christmas, Scully," Mulder mumbled into her hair as she fell against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. "'Scuse us," Frohike mumbled as he and Langly walked out of the living room into the hallway. They weren't surprised that the couple didn't seem to notice their exit. Mulder pulled her face away and looked into her eyes. "Surprised?" "Mulder." she said through a laugh. He took her face in his hands and they exchanged a long, slow kiss. "Merry Christmas to you," she whispered around the kiss. A few moments later, the Gunmen reentered the room and Byers had joined them. They stood there for several uncomfortable moments as Mulder and Scully continued their greetings, seemingly unaware of anyone else in the room. It was Frohike's repeated throat clearing that finally got their attention. Mulder looked up as Scully slipped under his arm. "How was the climb up the fire escape, Byers?" "Wonderful," Byers deadpanned. "Almost as much fun as that stray dog I ran into two streets over." "Just count your lucky stars it wasn't snowing," Frohike reminded. "Well, Mulder, the place is clean. The sweep earlier showed no buggies," Langly informed. Scully's eyes narrowed. "You checked for bugs?" "Yeah when we were dropping off the presents, while you were changing William. and then when I went to the bathroom. Very clean," Frohike clarified. "So," Byers said as he moved to the door, Frohike and Langly following him, "we'll be here at 5AM to pick you up." He'd opened the door and was already through it before he'd finished. Langly followed. As Frohike walked out, he turned around and smiled. "Have a great evening you two." He closed the door behind him. Mulder walked over and locked the door as Scully closed the blinds. When they turned back to face each other, smiles filled both their faces. "What do you want to do first?" Mulder asked mischievously. Scully didn't answer aloud. She walked over and took his hand and led him into the bedroom. Mulder's eyes fell on the bed. He'd longed for this moment for so long. He looked to Scully, who was smiling back at him. His hand slid up and gently caressed her cheek. He moved in toward her, his smile widening with each inch erased between them. She slid her arm around his back and looked down. He followed her gaze down to the crib and saw his son sleeping there. The baby's chest rose and fell evenly as he snored quietly. Mulder inhaled sharply. He hadn't seen such a beautiful sight in his life. "He's grown so much," he mumbled more to himself than to Scully. He'd only been gone two months ago, but he'd missed so much. The smile faded slightly from his face as he touched William's cheek and felt his warmth. "Go ahead," Scully encouraged in a whisper. The gentle prompt was all he needed. He reached into the crib and picked up his son. As he lifted him to his shoulder, tears filled his eyes. A few moments later, he suddenly realized they were seated on the bed and Scully was leaning against him, though he had no idea how they'd gotten there. She gently brushed the hair from William's face. Mulder wanted to speak, but words failed him. Instead, he just sat there staring rapturously in his son's face. He tenderly played with his fingers and toes. He took note of his light red hair that curled around his face. His fingers touched William's jaw, studying the baby's lips that were most definitely from his mother's. Then, he became aware of the features that were from him. He grimaced a little, realizing his son had inherited the Mulder nose. And those were his ears. The smile returned to his face: William was a marvelous mix of he and Scully. They sat there for a long time. No words passed between them. William slept as Mulder memorized everything about his son. Scully gently massaged Mulder's back and occasionally patted her son or smoothed his hair. After almost a half hour had passed, Mulder turned to Scully. "Guess we should put him back to bed, hmm?" he asked in a soft voice. Scully nodded and they rose in unison. Mulder slid the boy back into his crib and Scully arranged the sheet and blanket over him. "Sleep tight, buddy." Mulder turned around and fell back against the bed. He looked up at Scully, who was standing in front of him. "Wanna open your presents?" he asked in a low voice. She nodded her head. He returned the nod and started to get up, but she pushed his shoulder down. He looked up, confused. She leaned in, planted a light kiss on his cheek, and then whispered in his ear, "You're my present. I want to open you first." Mulder slid his arms around her waist and pulled her onto the bed next to him. "I just wish I had a bow," Mulder laughed against her cheek. "I'll just rip off your wrapping," Scully teased around a breathless kiss. Scully was true to her word, but she didn't rip anything. She carefully, teasingly undid each button of his shirt, kissing his chest and stomach as she did. Mulder watched in blissful awe as she slowly, torturously slow, unzipped his jeans. Once she had him undressed he pulled her up and rewarded her with a passionate kiss. Their tongues danced together as their bodies became reacquainted. Hours later, the sky was lightening outside. Inside, William was now lying between them, having awakened moments ago as his parents had just finished making love for the last time that night. The baby was awake, adding to Mulder's happiness. He could now see those marvelous blue eyes. They lay there quietly playing with each other, savoring the last fleeting moments before Mulder would have to go away, again. The couple shared kisses in between lavishing kisses on their son's forehead and hands. William was enjoying the attention immensely. "You know I bought him a mobile," Mulder broke the silence. Scully looked at him. He saw a fleeting moment of fear cross her face before mock anger took its place, making him regret the tease. "Don't even," she warned. "He's fine, Scully. You know it was probably Melissa coming back to play with him," he tried again. Her face was now expressionless as she studied their son, who was trying to shove his foot in his mouth. She was in no mood to joke about it. Mulder took her chin in his hand. "We're going to find out what is going on. But," he paused a moment to make sure she was looking at him, "I can tell you that this little guy is perfectly normal. He was made the old-fashioned way. No scientists had a hand in this." His eyes sparkled for a moment. "Well, just one." He smiled as she flashed a smile at him. "Who is it?" He knew exactly what she was asking him. He wrestled with himself for a moment. Old habits die hard and he was so used to protecting his Scully. However, he'd promised to tell her everything and she'd promised him the same. He would fulfill all his promises to her. "Marita." This didn't seem to surprise her as he'd thought it would. "Why?" was her only question. He slowly exhaled. "She'll find out about that ship and what they were doing. She still has some connections, but she's looking for a side. She can't go with the other side. She knows that." Scully was busy playing with William's pajamas. He decided to continue. He knew she was listening, though she didn't really want to hear. "I got the guys to find her and I managed to get a note to her. She's decided to work with us. She's not stupid." Scully just nodded as she gave William his pacifier, which he'd tossed aside earlier. Silence fell over them as they returned to just enjoying each other's company. "Scully, I don't know when I'll be able to come back again." He hated saying the words, but knew time was getting short. "I need you to know I am doing everything I can to get back here." "And so am I," she interjected. "So are all of us. Agent Doggett nearly got fired trying to uncover evidence against Kersh after you were gone. We all nearly died on that ship. We're trying everything to stop this." He interrupted her with a kiss. "I know," he murmured in agreement as he continued kissing her. After several seconds, William's squeal broke their kiss and they both immediately soothed him. "What is it, buddy?" "Shhh." But they soon realized it was not a squeal of pain or fear because he was laughing. "I think he's enjoying all this attention," Scully said, looking at Mulder. Mulder kissed the baby's cheek. "Merry Christmas, William. I'll make this full-time as soon as I can." He looked up at Scully and added, "I promise." As Scully leaned over to hug Mulder, she noted the time on the clock on the bedside table: 4:59. She closed her eyes and held him tight. The End ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hope you're enjoying it! Please send feedback to spookyteachr@home.com.