Christmas Love
Written: 12/2007
Summary: It was the early morning hours of Christmas.

I Smile
Written: 11/2005
Summary: A holiday party.

Letters Home
Written: 2/2005
Summary: Scully writes a letter home.

Looks
Written: 3/2005
Summary: It started with a look.

Lost
Written: 4/2005
Summary: He felt lost.

Memories
Written: 3/2005
Summary: She went back in time..

Turkey For Two
Written: 11/2005
Summary: They have much to be thankful for.

Without Her
Written: 11/2005
Summary: He couldn’t imagine life without her.

he knew her hours
were winding down
and he didn’t know
how he would live without her

he took her hand in his
…and went back in time

I’m looking forward
to working with you
she had said
he had thought her crazy

he hadn’t trusted her
but that first night
he had told her about Samantha
hoping she’d understand somehow

he hadn’t trusted her
but somehow
as the years went by
she became his everything

she was the one he turned to
when his mother died
she was the one he ran to
when his father was killed

and time and time again
she was waiting
with open arms
and a smile

and then one day
somehow
he couldn’t imagine
life without her

that year
they pledged their love
in front of
their family and friends

a year later
she gave birth
to twins
and their family was complete

and now
as he held her in his arms
he knew
that he wouldn’t last long without her

turkey for two
with all the fixings
and much
to be thankful for

he was thankful
for the woman
he now called his wife
and the miracle
residing inside her

she was thankful
for her kind and gentle husband
and the child
she now carried inside

and as he reached for her hand
and bowed his head
he couldn’t imagine being any happier
than he was right now

Picking up the old photo album
she went back in time

That first case
he bared his soul
she her body

Months later
she lost her father
and almost her partner

Lost in thought she muses
of all things she would have missed…

The times they ate Subway sandwiches
underneath that big oak tree
and then dozed in the afternoon sun

Or a few years later
the birth of their first child
followed by two more little ones

She smiles at the distant memory
her three pint-sized children and husband
sitting round the table drawing

At the end of the evening
her refrigerator bore three childlike drawings
beside a much older picture of Mommy

Sighing she closes the book
when she spies something
sticking up from the corner of a box

Upon closer inspection she can’t believe her eyes
it’s the Mother’s Day gift she cherishes most
her long-lost cd made for her when the children were very small

On it you can hear
her voice reading to them
and then answering a million and one questions

Ah, but that was many years ago
the children are all grown now
with children of their own

Taking his hand in hers
she smiles at the big child she married
who is still the best thing that ever happened to her

Dev, this story would never have been finished without your help. Thank you for being the only beta I’ll ever need.

He felt so lost, so alone
She was the one he counted on
But now she was gone

How he got through each day he didn’t know
Without her here it felt like he was drowning
A little more each day

He hasn’t slept since she was taken
Except for a catnap here and there
And that was 2 months ago

He thought being with Kristen, with anyone
Would somehow lessen the pain
But it doesn’t

He just wanted to feel something, anything
Besides the almost physical ache
That has a deathlike grip on his heart

Gently touching her cross, his lifeline
He wonders how much longer
He can go on without her

they’re mine.
Author’s Note: This was written for XFShippersSafeHarbor’s debut

challenge. The elements were to use the following words in a

story/poem: love, ring, hug, rose.

It started with a look
and “I was under the impression that you were sent to spy on me”
As the years went by
it turned to a soul-crushing hug
and “you’re the only one I trust”

Ten years after that first look
he slipped the ring on her finger
She told the teary-eyed church
about the day she fell in love
with this passionate man

It was both corny and romantic
a Valentine’s Day only they would believe
On her desk that morning lay
a card beside a beautiful red rose
Beside a hallmark greeting only he would choose
he told of a love that kept him whole and honest

On his own desk he found
a stuffed alien smiling at him
He found a similar card
chosen because she knew he’d smile
Written inside were three simple words
but they brought tears to his eyes

Now at the church
the priest tells him he can kiss his bride
As he lifts her veil he almost breaks down
for in her eyes he sees more love
than he has ever seen in anyone’s eyes before
But what he doesn’t realize is
he’s looking at her the same way

He kisses his bride
as the world melts away

Mulder Residence
Early morning
Late April 2003

“Dear Mom,” Scully began her latest letter to her mother, knowing that her mother counted on her letters to know that they were safe. “I think Mulder is up to something. I don’t have much so-called evidence of it; just a feeling. From time to time, he’ll just look at me, like there’s something he wants to say, but smiles instead. Oh well. I guess only time will tell.”

Speaking of Mulder, she thought to herself as she heard a loud bang from the home office of their small home. Walking into the room, she saw Mulder, who appeared to be physically fine, picking up the stack of books that had fallen. But why were there tears streaming down his face?

“Mulder?”

He looked up. “Yeah?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, Scully. I just got the email I never thought I would get,” he said, sitting onto the couch, much like his much-loved one back in storage in DC.

“What email?”

“I’ll tell you in a second. First, let me ask you something. If you could have anything in the entire world, what would it be?” he asked as he pulled her into his arms.

Wiping his tears away, she smiled. “That’s easy. To go home; to have William back.” Mulder just smiled at her. “You’re doing it again,” she told him.

“Doing what?” he innocently asked.

“That. Looking like you want to tell me something, but can’t so you smile instead. You’ve been doing it a lot lately.”

He nodded. “I was wondering when you’d call me on that.”

Her eyes widened. “So there IS something going on. What is it?”

“Well, I’ve been working on a little surprise for you. I just received confirmation of its completion.”

“What is it?”

“Here, let me show you,” he said, as he pulled up an email on his laptop. It was a picture that touched her heart and had tears streaming down her face within seconds of seeing it.

“Oh, Mulder,” she said, her eyes glued to the screen. The picture showed her mother and their almost 2-year-old son, recently reunited, smiling for the camera.

“Happy early Mother’s Day, Scully,” he told her, holding her close.

Same day
Noon

“Mulder, that wasn’t a dream, was it?” Scully whispers as they wake from their nap.

He looks at her tenderly. “No, Sweetheart, it wasn’t. It was real. Do you want to see the picture again?” She nods as he brings the picture back up on his laptop.

Meanwhile, the doorbell rings.

“Who could that be?” Scully wonders, knowing they rarely get visitors.

“I’ll get it,” Mulder tells her, knowing the rest of his surprise has arrived.

Minutes later, Mulder returns. “Scully, close your eyes and take my hand.” Wondering what was going on, but trusting him completely, she does as he asks. When they come to a stop, she can tell that he has seated her on the couch in their living room without opening her eyes. But what is that on her hand? It feels like hands. Not Mulder’s hands, but if not, then who’s…

“Open your eyes, Scully,” Mulder tells her. And when she does, she can’t believe her eyes. Standing there with his small hands on hers, stands William. She picks him up and pulls him into a tender hug, his small arms wrapped around her neck. And that’s when the tears start. “What’s wrong, Mommy?” a small voice asks.

She pulls away to look at him. “Mommy? You remember me?” He nods. “Yes. Where’s Moons?” “Oh, Sweetie, he’s not—“

“Here he is,” Mulder says, sitting down beside his family as he hands over the blue Care Bear. And that’s when Scully looks up, finally noticing the other people in the room. They were all there—her mom, Doggett, Reyes and Skinner.

And that’s when they all descend on her, first her mother, then Skinner, and finally Doggett and Reyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you all earlier.”

“Don’t worry about it. You had more important things to focus on,” Skinner tells her.

“I feel like I’m in some kind of time warp; this feels so surreal,” she laughs. She looks down at her slumbering son, oblivious to it all. “Mulder, he looks just like you. He has your beautiful brown hair and your nose.” He nods. “Yes, but he has your gorgeous blue eyes.”

“I think we can safely say he is the perfect combination of you both,” Maggie offers. “Fox’s hair and nose and Dana’s eyes. He also has that intensity and focus, which he gets from you both.”

“Does that mean he’s going to be double as stubborn as these two?” Doggett asks.

“If he is, then watch out,” Skinner adds, smiling.

“Hey, what is this? Gang up on the Mulder’s?”

Mulder realized his slip a second too late. “Mulder’s?” asks Maggie. Looking at her husband, Scully nods. “Yes. We decided to finally make it official.”

“When?” Maggie asks. Scully smiles. “March 6th.”

“Well, that’s about as perfect as you can get,” Skinner comments. Mulder and Scully smile, but the rest just look confused. “That’s the day they were assigned as partners—March 6, 1992,” he clarifies.

Later that afternoon
2:30 PM

“I see you’ve started packing,” Reyes tells Scully, who looks confused. “What do you mean?” she asks. “We have to pretty much live out of boxes because we move around so much.”

They all look at Mulder. “You haven’t told her yet?” asks Skinner. “No. After telling her about William, the time just got away from us; then you guys arrived.”

“Tell me what, Mulder?” Scully wanted to know. “You remember the email I got this morning?” he asked her. She nods. “Yes, but I thought that was the one about William.” He smiles. “William was one of the emails, but I got two.”

“What was the other one?” she asks.

“The other one was from Skinner. Scully?”

“Yes, Mulder?”

“We’re going home.”

“What?”

“It’s true, Scully,” Doggett says. “The material in those caves was administered to the super soldiers, which of course destroyed them. It had a domino effect. We did it to one and it was like the super soldiers were part of a larger entity. It destroyed them all. It’s over.”

“That’s why we’re really here, Scully,” Reyes said. “Not only to bring you William, but to bring you home.”

Scully sat there, tears forming in her eyes. “Where is home, exactly?”

Mulder said, “Picture a 4 bedroom, 2 bath, with a spacious kitchen and living room; it also has a home office and another room suitable for a playroom. What do you think?”

“Sounds great. How much?”

“Not one red cent,” Skinner told them.

“What?” asked Mulder.

“After everything that you both have been through, the FBI has provided your house, this house, for you.”

“I don’t know how to thank you,” Mulder said. “But how did you get that through accounting?”

“You don’t have to thank me. Or anyone. We should be thanking you. As for accounting, I didn’t handle the claim. Kersh did. He sent you this,” Skinner said, handing over a letter.

“Dear Mulder and Scully,” Scully begins. “As you’ve no doubt learned by now, you are free to come home. The FBI will be providing the house and all the furnishings. Also, anything else you need to get settled back into your old life. You might be wondering what kind of jobs you might find upon your return? There are two positions open here at the FBI, in the X-Files division. We need four full-time agents to keep it up and running, but for awhile it’ll just be you two if you accept his offer because Agents Doggett and Reyes are taking a little time off. Ask them about it. I’m sure they’d love to tell you. Sincerely, Alvin Kersh, Co-Director, FBI.”

“Co-director? Who’s the other?” Mulder asks.

“I am,” Skinner answers.

“Congratulations. May I say it’s about damn time?” Mulder states. “Absolutely!” Scully agrees.

“Now, what is this about time off?” Scully asks.

“Well, we’re going to be in Hawaii for a couple of weeks next month,” Reyes tells them. “On our honeymoon,” she adds, taking John’s hand.

“Congratulations, you two,” Scully says. “I’m glad you didn’t wait seven years like we did.”

“Amen to that,” Maggie says.

“Congratulations,” says Mulder

Early evening

Looking around, Maggie wonders, “So, how much do you actually need to pack that’s not already in boxes?”

“Just the office and our bedroom,” Scully answers. “And a few things in the kitchen.”

“Well, that shouldn’t take long,” Maggie tells her. “Shall we start?”

“Sure. You can head on into the office. I’ll be right in.”

While her mother and Monica headed into their home office, Scully turned to Mulder. “Mulder, would you like to hold your son?” His eyes lit up. Gently sliding William into his father’s arms, Scully watches the look of absolute joy cross her love’s face. “Oh, Scully. It feels just as wonderful as it did the first time.” She just smiles. “But…”

“But what, Mulder?”

“Does he know me? He knew you as Mommy, but does he know me?”

“Oh, Mulder. Of course he knows you.”

“But how? I was only there for the first few days after he was born. I missed the first six months of his life. How could he possibly know me?” Mulder asks.

“From the moment you left, I talked about you to him. I told him how much his daddy loves him. I showed him your picture. And every night, before I put him in his crib, we kissed your picture and said ‘I love you, Daddy’ to it. Yes, Mulder, he knows you.”

“Thank you,” he whispers, tears of joy, sliding down his face.

“You’re welcome, poopyhead,” she tells him to make him smile.

He laughs. “Okay, let’s get this place packed up so we can go home,” he tells them all.

8:22 PM

Everything packed, the men were carrying boxes to the moving van and cars parked outside. The women, meanwhile, were keeping William entertained.

Out of breath, the men collapsed on the couch, closing their eyes collectively.

“Are you dying?” Scully asked them, her eyebrow lifting in question.

Mulder opened one eye. “Woman, if I could move, you would get it.”

She laughs. “I shot you once. I can do it again.”

This earns her a laugh from them all.

9:12 PM

Everything was loaded. All the adults, save for Mulder and Scully were waiting in the vehicles outside, ready to go. Mulder and Scully took one last look at the living room of the house. It would always hold a special place in their hearts. This house was where they started out their life together as man and wife. It was also where they conceived their second child. Scully squeezed his hand as he laid his hand on her not-yet-visible pregnant stomach. “Let’s go home, Scully.” Closing the door behind them, their future had never looked so bright.