From: DSc1110 Date: Sun, 19 Dec 1999 18:30:02 -0600 Subject: NEW: We Believe. . . (1/1) We believe . . . (1/1) Author: DSc1110 (schoppe@vvm.com) Archiving: Yes! I'd be honored! Spookys included. Rating: G (Hey, it's set in a church...) Keywords: Christmas, MSR, Mulder POV... sorta kinda Spoilers: Some small ones for Redux II, but you'll prolly never notice them. It falls during Season 7. Disclaimer: Not mine... Just borrowing them for some holiday jollies. Author's Note: I had started this about two months ago, but due to school I had to put it away and let it collect dust. Now that I am on Christmas break I decided to pull it out and turn it into a holiday fic. Some of the references to the holiday readings are indeed from this year's Midnight Mass. I have a book right in front of me since I am the lecter at that mass this year. It's sort of a response to Amy's fan fic challenge dealing with sharing Christmas traditions. Hope you enjoy! < - - - - - - - - - > FBI Headquarters: X-Files Office 7:45 PM December 24, 1999 "Mulder." He glanced up from the computer monitor he had been staring at for the past twenty minutes. Scully was pulling on her heavy coat with a small smile on her face. "Are you going home soon?" He glanced at the clock. He shrugged. "I take you're leaving to start your Christmas vacation." "Yeah, I thought I'd head home and get some rest before church tonight." "Midnight mass?" She nodded. "A family tradition?" She nodded again. They just looked at each other for a few moments. "What about you Mulder? Any plans for Christmas?" He shook his head. "I don't guess. No traditions to keep, no cases to investigate. I guess it'll be like any other weekend." She didn't say anything. Then she stepped forward and set a small box on the monitor. It was wrapped in silver paper and had a small green bow on top. "Merry Christmas, Mulder." Then she turned and fled the office. < - - - - - - - - - > Alexandria, VA 11:56 PM 'I can still turn around and pretend I never came,' he thought. He looked from her car to the large double doors of St. Johns' Church. He looked down at her gift to him. A silver alien head tie tack. He grinned to himself for the umpteenth time that evening. He reached into his pocket and fingered the small box in his pocket. With a nod of his head the pulled his car door open and braced himself for the cold air. As Mulder pulled the heavy door to the church open he again thought to himself, 'I can still go back.' But it was like there was something pulling him inside almost against his will. Maybe it was the warmth, maybe it was the sound of the Christmas carols being sung by the choir, or maybe it was the thought of not being alone of Christmas Eve. Nonetheless, he walked into the church and stood at the back of the church. He recognized Father McCue to his left talking with a few boys dressed in white robes. Mulder would never forget him after the trials they'd all gone through when Scully was dying from cancer. He began to scan the congregation for his partner. The church was almost filled to capacity making it hard for him to spot her. A young man approached him from the right. "May I help you?" The man whispered. "I'm looking for Dana Scully. Do you know where she is seated?" The man looked a bit confused. "Who?" It would figure the man wouldn't know her. She didn't get many chances due to her job to come to Sunday mass. "Dana Scully. Red head, about 5'2"?" The man still looked confused. Another man approached from behind. "Paul, this man is looking for a Dana Scully?" "Ahhh... Dana. John, I pointed her out to you, remember? Red?" The other man nodded, still looking a bit confused. Mulder sighed. She hated being called Red. "Where is she seated?" "Right over there." Paul pointed. There she sat, all alone in a pew about half way between the back of the church and the altar. Mulder couldn't help but smile. "Thanks." Mulder began to stride towards her. 'No turning back now.' As he got closer he noticed that she wasn't alone after all. Her mother sat to her right with a young girl in her lap. He continued to scan the people around Scully and he recognized her brother, Bill, and his wife in the pew in front of her. There was another young man and woman sitting with them. 'That must be Charlie and his wife,' he thought to himself. He stepped up to the pew beside her. She hadn't sensed his approach from behind her. She turned to stare at him with a slightly startled look on her face before she slid over to allow him room to sit beside her. As he sat down beside her he gave her a small smile. "Merry Christmas Scully," he whispered into her ear. She touched his arm and gave him a matching smile. Mrs. Scully leaned over and smiled at Mulder. "Merry Christmas Fox." "Merry Christmas Maggie." Then the bells began to ring. Scully smiled broadly and gestured to her watch. Mulder glanced down and saw that it was midnight. Mulder chose to follow Scully's lead as everyone stood up. The choir began to sing "Silent Night." He closed his eyes and just listened. When he opened his eyes he noticed Scully watching him intently. She still wore a small smile. Mulder decided that this night was one night that he wasn't going to think. He was going to enjoy this time... enjoy being surrounded happy people, enjoy being beside someone he loved. He let the words, prayers and songs just wash over him. Bathing him in peacefulness. As they sat down Scully leaned over to him. "It's wonderful isn't it? You don't have to think... you just have to be. That's why tonight is the most peaceful night of the year." He nodded. They listened as the lector read stories about rejoicing in a child being born, finding the light after walking through darkness, and how everyone would be delivered from "all lawlessness." They stood just as everyone did when Father McCue went to the lectern and told the story of Jesus' birth. As the congregation sat once again, Scully moved closer to Mulder. She leaned into him slightly and he draped his arm across the back of the pew behind her. They both focused on the sermon. Father McCue spoke on the family and how important it is to surround yourself with loved ones through the holidays. Mulder looked down at Scully with a calm look and she looked at him with a slightly concerned look. He squeezed her shoulders and smiled as the sermon continued about peace, love, faith and hope. As his last words echoed in the church everyone stood up. Scully took Mulder's hand and looked him in the eye as Father McCue started the prayer. "We believe in God the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, on all that is seen and unseen." Mulder smiled a bit as Scully continued to hold his gaze. "We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation He came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen." They both seemed to hold their breath for a few minutes. Mulder leaned forward and Scully's eyes grew wide. "Thank you," he whispered in her ear. She gave him a puzzled look. He turned back to the altar and fell into the response of "Lord, hear our prayer" as requests of safety, joy, health and peace were offered. They were both silent through the following prayers and petitions. As everyone joined hands for "The Lord's Prayer" Scully entwined their fingers and as the last notes passed, they remained joined. "The peace of the Lord be with you always." "And also with you." "Wish you're loved ones around you a very Merry Christmas." With this request by the priest husbands and wives embraced, friends gave hearty handshakes and children that were still awake giggled at watching the people around them kiss. Scully turned to Mulder and whispered, "Merry Christmas" as she gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. He smiled and returned the gesture. They then turned to the rest of the Scully clan. Mrs. Scully gave Scully a hug and a kiss, then turned to Mulder and gave him a tight hug. Charles, his wife, Tara and Bill were both surprised when they turned to find Mulder there. They all shook hands with him. Tara even gave him a kiss on the cheek. They all gave Scully a huge hug and a kiss, all exchanging "Merry Christmas" wishes. Scully ordered Mulder to stay when she left for communion. He sat back and watched her make her way to the front. It was then that he noticed how dressed up she was. Her dress a simple navy blue 'slip dress.' It fell to just above her knees, and it exposed her arms that were well toned from hours at the gym. He noted that she had curled her hair and it gave her a soft look. As she rounded the corner and began her trip back to the pew he noted that her shoes were a matching blue and that the heels weren't as high as the ones she normally wore. His eyes continued to look her over. When they returned to her face, now directly in front of him as he let everyone in the pew, he saw her smiling up at him. Her makeup was even softer. He smiled down at her. As mass came to a close, the choir began to sing 'Joy to the World.' Scully slipped her hand back into his. When everyone began to fuss over jackets the spell seemed to be broken. Introductions were made, as Mulder was formally introduced to Charles and his wife, Michelle. All the kids had long since fallen asleep, so Charles, Michelle, Tara and Bill hurried out. "We want to get them in bed so Santa can get some rest too," Charles and whispered to Mulder and Scully. Mrs. Scully turned to Mulder as they made their way down the aisle and invited him to join the family for dinner. Scully looked up at him hopefully. He shook his head. "I think that I need to go see my mother. Hopefully we can put our differences aside for one afternoon and just enjoy being together for awhile. My family hasn't had a decent Christmas since before Samantha disappeared. Maybe I can rectify that for one year -- even if it is only the two of us." They both nodded. "But if we need a referee I'll be sure to call you first." Mrs. Scully laughed. "All right, then, Fox. Have a Merry Christmas. Send my regards to your mother." "I will." "Dana, I'll see you in the car." Mulder and Scully watched her mother leave. He turned to Scully and opened his mouth, but closed it. "Mulder?" "Yeah?" "Are you okay?" "Yes Scully. I haven't been this okay in a long time. I wanted to tell you that you look beautiful tonight." Her face lit up. "Thank you Mulder. You look pretty spiffy yourself. I like that tie tack. Someone with really good taste must have given you that." He grinned. "Good taste? Well, you got me didn't you?" She laughed, but quickly grew serious. "Do I? Have you that is?" "I think you already know that you do." She didn't say anything, so he continued. "By the way, I got you a little something." "But I thought I already had everything I wanted." "Ahhh... but this is more. I always have wanted you to have everything you wanted and more." Her eyes shined and he handed her a small box. "Cheesy, I know, but please open it already." She laughed as she unwrapped the gift. Inside lay a small silver ring and a piece of mistletoe. She looked at him curiously. He took the ring and put it on her left pinkie finger. "It's a pinkie ring. You don't ever wear rings, but I figured a pinkie ring wouldn't be out of the question." "It's perfect Mulder, thank you." He shook his head. "No, thank you." She tilted her head and gave him a curious look. "Thank you for sharing your Christmas tradition with me, for sharing your beliefs with me, for being my friend, for ... for ... for more things than I can list. Thank you mostly for giving me hope." "Hope?" "In the future. Hope that maybe we can beat this thing that we are battling, and maybe someday have something that resembles that normal life you talk about now and then." She laughed. "You and me and a normal life. Somehow that doesn't fit together... He sighed and looked down. "...but I do like the idea of you and me." He looked up at her. "Really?" "Really. Hey, you've had me for a long time; I just didn't want to admit it. I'm not that easy to get rid of." "I'm glad." She grinned. Mulder picked up the sprig of mistletoe that he had placed in the box for decoration. He twiddled it in his fingers and stared at it intently for a few moments. Scully pulled it from his hands, got on her tiptoes again and held it over his head. She leaned forward and gave him a quick, gentle kiss on the lips. She pulled away quickly, whispered "Merry Christmas" and jogged out the back doors of the church. Mulder leaned back and looked down at the empty box on the pew beside him. He smiled and spoke aloud to the empty church. "Merry Christmas Scully" Fin. Feedback is adored!!! For more of my work, if you liked this, go to: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Comet/6895/ It's in major need of updating... and all the stories are under my real name . . . not my pen name.