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It was Christmas Eve, and Mulder had been planning on spending it staked out in his car, because his apartment had to be fumigated again. He hated Christmas, because of how commercialized it was, hence why he locked himself in his house, or worked from the 24th to the 25th. This year he couldn’t though, he didn’t know what to do, he couldn’t go home, and he still didn’t have the X-Files, and there was no way that he was going to stay here.
He and Scully had just went through one of the most confusing experiences in his life. He didn’t know what to do.
“Go home Mulder, it’s almost Christmas,” Scully said, pulling him from his spiraling thoughts. Sure enough he looked down at his watch, the face reading 11:37.
“Can’t my apartment is being fumigated,” Mulder said.
“Again?” Scully asked genuinely.
“Yeah.”
“So, Mulder, your plans were to spend Christmas, and Christmas Eve staking out an old house?”
“With ghosts Scully, don’t forget the ghost.”
“You are crazy Mulder,” Scully said shaking her head fondly.
“You go home, Scully I might go drive to the Gunmen’s place and crash there,” Mulder said ushering Scully away.
“Mulder, I know the Gunmen are away, like they always are, studying mall santa’s all across the nation or whatever, and no one should be alone for Christmas. Why don’t you come stay with me? You can come to my mothers house tomorrow too,” Scully asked.
“I wouldn’t want to impose on you or your mother Scully,” Mulder said softly looking down at his feet.
“You wouldn’t be imposing, my mother adores you, she would be thrilled if you showed up,” Scully said.
“Really, your mother adores me?” Mulder asked like she was crazy.
“Yes, Mulder, is that really so hard to believe?” Scully asked starting to get annoyed since with every passing moment it was inching closer to midnight.
“Ok,” Mulder said agreeing to stay the night at Scullys
“Good,” scully said as they both got in their respective vehicles and headed of towards Scully’s apartment.
XXXXX
They arrived at Scully’s apartment 11 minutes past midnight. The faint sound of Christmas music echoed through the halls. The two of them snuck quietly through the halls, Mulder carrying the gifts that needed to be wrapped along with a bag that was slung over his shoulder containing his close. Their footsteps echoed, boards creaking beneath their feet.
Stopping in front of the door, Scully pulled out her key and unlocked the door. The two of them entered the apartment silently, Mulder dropped his bag onto the floor with a thud, before gently setting the gifts on the table.
“You don’t have a couch.”
“What? Oh yeah, I had to get rid of it,” Scully said, distractedly as she was taking off her jacket.
“Where am I going to sleep then?”
“On my bed, I figured I would take the floor.”
“Scully, don’t be ridiculous, I am not going to put you out of your own bed, I can still just go and get a motel-”
“Don’t be ridiculous Mulder, I am tired and don’t feel like arguing, why don’t we just share the bed it is plenty big enough,” Scully said cutting Mulder off abruptly.
Mulder would fight Scully on just about any subject imaginable, but for some reason he didn’t feel like fighting. It was Christmas, and most of his childhood memories were filled with fighting on Christmas. Loud angry words that his parents shouted at each other as you Fox Mulder tried to hide away and block out the sound.
“Ok.”
“Good, you can have the bathroom first,” Scully said, throwing Mulder a tired smile.
The two of them began the short awkward process of getting ready for bed. Mulder went straight to the bathroom and emerged a few minutes later waring shorts and a t-shirt, a far cry from the jeans and leather jacket he had been wearing earlier. Scully entered the bathroom shortly after without exchanging a word with Mulder.
Then the time came they were both standing awkwardly in Scully’s bed.
“I’ll take the right,” Scully said, going to that side.
Mulder, went to his respective side they both got under the cover, lights of, in silence. The tension in the the air was thick, with unsaid thoughts and feelings. If one of them just spoke up maybe it didn’t have to be like this. They were curled up in facing away from each other, almost falling asleep, when Mulder whispered,
“I didn’t want to spend Christmas alone that’s why I asked you to come to that stake out with me, and I don’t even like Christmas it is to commercialized.”
“What,” Scully mumbled dazed.
“I didn’t want to be alone, I’m sorry, I ruined your plans though,” Mulder said softly turning to look at Scully as she did the same the two of them in sync.
“You have nothing to be sorry for Mulder, I would much rather go with you when you do dumb things than to have to find out about it later,” Scully said, the incident that happened in October still vibrant in her mind finding Mulder floating out in the ocean.
“I’m sorry, still though Scully,” Mulder admitted.
“Mulder, if you don’t even like Christmas why did you not want to be alone,” Scully asked confused.
“I saw a girl that looks like a lot like Samantha and it brought back some memories,” Mulder admitted. Scully wasn’t sure how to respond to that.
The two of them fell into silence again, this time facing each other. Scully reached over and grabbed Mulders hand threading her fingers through it, giving it a comforting squeeze. Mulder was grateful for that.
He leaned forward and gently placed a kiss on Scully’s lips much to both of their surprise. The tensions was back, and neither were really sure how to react to it. Mulder thought of last October, the words that he had uttered only to have them dismissed as symptoms of what ever had happened. He uttered the truest words to ever be spoken.
“I love you Scully.