Title: When the Pawn Series, part 6: Paper Bag 

Author: Nialani    

Feedback: Pretty please with a cherry on top? ( No, I ain't too proud to beg!)

Classification: MSR, Scully/Mulder Angst

Rating: Pg-13 now,  NC-17, next chapter.

Spoilers: References to Sein Und Zeit (An episode that has yet to be aired)

Archive:Tell me where and keep my name on it, please.         

Disclaimer: Chris they're yours, Don't sue! Lyrics by Fiona Apple "Paper Bag" 
On her New Album: "When The Pawn"

Note: Uh this is a lighter happier part. This is my little X-mas story! Fox 
and Dana spend their Christmas vacation time at Maggie's with the rest of the 
Scully brood including, one irate older brother.

When the Pawn Series:
I Know
On The Bounds
To Your Love
Limp
Love Ridden

The Interludes

How to Please
What Are You Wearing?

Coming Soon ( really I swear):

Dinner and A Movie
*********************************
I was staring at the sky, just looking for a star
To pray on, or wish on, or something like that
I was having a sweet fix of a daydream of a boy
Whose reality I knew, was a hopeless to be had
But then the dove of hope began it's downward slope
And I believed for a moment that my chances
Were approaching to be grabbed
But as it came down near, so did a weary tear
-I thought it was a bird but it was just a paper bag

***********************************
10:00AM
December 20
Margaret Scully's home

Well, when Dana turned to me in bed two nights ago and asked me if I wanted 
to spend Christmas with her at her mother's house I could've said one of two 
things. I really did have a choice. I'm mean here she was in my arms, in all 
her naked glory. Her little red head was lying on my chest, one of her tiny 
little hands was idly playing with my sparse chest hairs and she was looking 
up at me, innocently, with those big blue eyes. Big, blue, hopeful, loving 
eyes. Oh shit, who the hell am I kidding? I had no choice, but to say:

"Sure I would love to spend Christmas at your mother's house." With both your 
brothers, your sisters-in-law and your Mom who hasn't stopped bugging us 
about setting a wedding date. Which is my fault. Every time Dana broached the 
subject I'd find something else to do or talk about. Not that proposing to 
her was a mistake. I want to marry her. I just didn't know when.

So here we are. Staying here for the week, to my surprise, because Dana 
wanted to help her Mom with the decorating and cooking and such. I didn't 
mind. Nope not at all. Until I found out Fat boy had arrived the night 
before. 

He was a pain in the ass when we first walked into the door. Obviously Maggie 
told him about our engagement and the baby probably trying to get him to deal 
before we got there, but to no avail. So here I was lugging four bags of 
clothes and presents in to the house. And before I cold drop the bag on the 
floor, the fighting begins between Dana and Billy Boy. Take a wild guess who 
started it. 

"What the hell have you've done Dana?" he yelled at her as soon as she walked 
in the door. She hugged and kissed her mother, "Hello."

"I've taken control of my life and I'm having fun for the first time in 
years. That's what I've done." She said simply.

"You've ruined your life over him?" he said rudely pointing his finger in my 
face and I swear if I wasn't carrying all this luggage on my back like a 
packed mule, I would have probably took offense, but right then I couldn't 
breath and my back was killing me.

"I don't believe getting married and having a child is ruining my life. It's 
enhancing it, Bill." She countered. Maggie must've saw me turning blue. She 
took a duffel bag from around my neck and I thanked her.

"Bless you." I breathed out. Maggie smiled

"Hey, Big Sis!" A tall young dark haired man appeared out of the living room, 
I suppose that was her little brother, Charlie. Dana ran into his arms and 
hugged him.

"Hey you! How are you?" she asked. He kissed her cheek and helped me with the 
other bags.  

"I'm fine." He said and I couldn't help, but laugh a little. Dana elbowed me. 
"How are you? He said, looking at her still flat tummy. 

"Very, very hungry!" she said and he laughed. 

"Well, I have some finger foods in the living room laid out for all of you." 
Maggie said. They all walked away into the living room. Leaving Bill and I 
alone in the front, together.

"I don't like you." He said.

No shit Sherlock, "Really? I'm crushed." I said walking away he stood in 
front of me blocking my way.

"You will be." He pushed me and I snapped. That was it. I wasn't taking his 
shit anymore. I gave him my best right hook and he went down. The whole 
entire family ran out of the living room when they heard the loud *thud* of 
Bill's body hitting the wood panel floor.

"He started it." I mumbled under my breath when they all stared 
disapprovingly at me, as I tried to shake away the burning, stinging pain in 
my hand.

Then I heard it. The sound that I'd give my life's blood to hear. Dana was 
laughing. Very, very loudly.
_________________________

Okay, my fiancee just punched out my older brother. I'm not going to laugh. 
I'm not. Wait ... why are they suddenly looking at me? Oops.

"This isn't funny!" Tara said, she went to the floor and cradled her prone 
husband's head in her lap. Suddenly, Maggie started laughing. "Mom!" Tara 
cried.

"I'm sorry...he's just had that coming for so long..." Maggie snorted and 
then Charlie began to chuckle.

"Well, Tara, he is kind of a bully." Charlie said and then the room got quite 
and then we all began to laugh even louder than before.

Bill woke up to our laughing. He pushed away from his wife and stormed out of 
the room not before giving everyone a thorough glare. We all watched him 
leave.

"You shouldn't have hit him." Tara yelled at Fox. 

"Back off Tara. Bill deserved what he got!" I said.

"Oh, your such a great sister!" she stomped out of the room and I rolled my 
eyes.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have hit him." Fox said, I took his hands and looked 
at his knuckles. The ones on his right hand were bruised and swollen. 

"No, you shouldn't have, but I know it was provoked, so you're forgiven." I 
said, leading him down the hall to the kitchen. "We need to put ice on this." 
I told him. I made him sit down on a stool at the kitchen island. I got a 
bunch of ice and a bowl. I stuck his hand in it and placed the crushed ice on 
top.

"We need to talk." I said and he gave me his panic face. I really did need to 
learn how to start a serious conversation without using those words. "I want 
a *date*, Fox."

"Hey, well when you finish helping your, Mom, we can go out." He lamely joked.

"You know what I'm talking about, Fox!" I said, he was really starting to 
work my nerves, "Damn it Fox! I'm having a baby. I'm catholic and I want this 
baby brought into this world right. Preferably while I'm pregnant and not 
while I'm in labor." 

"I-I..um. " he stuttered.

"What's wrong? Why are you procrastinating all of the sudden?" Maybe he 
didn't get want to get married. Maybe he didn't love me like he said. I 
suddenly felt a wave of tears coming. Damn these mood swings.
 
"It's not you. I just, I want to marry you. I just am nervous." He mumbled.

"Nervous about what?" I asked, he was confusing me like all men do.

"I don't know. Maybe, that you'll change your mind." He muttered so low that 
I could barely hear him.

My tears vanished, and were replaced just as quickly with anger and 
aggravation and sympathy, "I would never ever change my mind." I said running 
my hands through his scruffy hair. "Never ever."

"I hope not cause I'd be lost without you." He said and I smiled.

"I love you." I whispered

"February 3rd?" he whispered pulling me int his lap with his free hand.

"Why not the 14th?"

"To clich" he groaned and I laughed.

Finally we have a date. Now I just have to together a wedding in a two 
months. I hope I'm not really huge by then. I thought as he massaged my 
abdomen. I kissed his forehead. Yeah February 14, would have been ... much.

______________________________

Well, the rest of the day wasn't that bad. Fat boy was still missing, so I 
got to do the stuff he couldn't since he was off sulking somewhere. I helped 
Charlie bring the Christmas tree in and set it up in it's stand. I brought 
the decorations up from the basement and the ladies started decorating the 
inside of the house.  Charlie and I checked the outdoor lights and then we 
began to decorate the outside of the house. 

"Mom always waits until the last minute, to put up her Christmas 
decorations." He informed me while we decorated the front of the house with 
white and blue lights. "Dad liked to put up the lights," he said fondly." 
Sometimes he didn't get home until three days before Christmas and she 
wouldn't bring a single decoration in the house until he was there." He 
smiled, "I'm rambling." He laughed.

"No, it's good memories, I like to hear about your family. Dana has told me a 
lot." I said. I didn't have such wonderful memories about my own family, so 
it was nice to hear Dana, or even, Charlie talk fondly about their family.

"What about yours?" He asked me the million dollar question. Then I suddenly 
remembered, Mom. When I was young she'd make little cookies, and while they 
were cooling in the kitchen, Samantha and I stole them at every chance. I 
told that to Charlie and he smiled. That was my one and only good holiday 
memory of my family. One of the few good memories of Mom, I realized sadly.

We got all the Christmas lights up and Charlie informed me that when it got 
dark we'd all go outside and have the lighting of the house ceremony, but 
first they had to find Bill. I was glad Charlie was nothing like Bill. At 
least, I have one brother as an ally and he was a Knicks fan.

We went into the house and Maggie had some hot cocoa waiting for us. I looked 
around the house, it looked like it was straight out of a hallmark card. I 
went into the living room and Dana was sleeping on the couch. Being pregnant, 
though she'd lie and tell you she was fine, was trying on her. I put my cocoa 
down on the table and kissed her forehead.

"Put the lights up?" she asked, sleepily, not even bothering to open her 
eyes. "Come here." She yawned making room on the couch for me. "I'm cold." 
She said.

"You want me to turn up the heat?" I asked and she shook her head no.

"Mom's having hot flashes." She mumbled. I slunk down besides her and wrapped 
my arms around her waist. She enlaced her fingers in mine and placed our 
hands on her stomach. And before I could tell her what a good time I had with 
her brother she was asleep, again. I kissed her neck. I yawned. It had been a 
long morning. I pulled her closer, closed my eyes, and fell asleep.  

*********************************
Hunger Hurts and I want to eat so bad, oh it kills
Cuz I know I'm a mess he don't wanna clean up
I got to fold cuz these hands are too shaky to hold
Hunger hurts, but starving works,
When it cost too much love
And I went crazy again today,
Looking for a strand to climb
Looking for a little hope
******************************
4:00PM
Maggie Scully's Living Room

I woke in a cocoon of warmth. I felt Mulder's warm rhythmic breaths on the 
back of my neck, indicating that he was fast asleep. Our hands were still 
entwined. I smiled too myself. I was unbelievably content. I had my Fox and a 
baby growing inside me. I was going to have a wonderful wedding and a family 
I never thought I'd ever have. I was so blessed, and I knew Fox felt the same 
way. Just having these moments together like this, like now, washed away all 
the former heartache we've endured these last seven years.

I turned around to face him. He was so beautiful. I ran my fingers through 
his hair and down his cheek. My thumb rubbed his bottom lip and I kissed him 
softly. His eyes crept opened and his hand touched my cheek softly.

"What was that for?" he mumbled, sleepily, with a smile on his face.

"I just realized how happy I am." I said, honestly.

He smiled and kissed me passionately. "You're just now realizing this? I've 
been ecstatic since we first made love" he chuckled.

"Yeah, but I just realized how complete you and the baby made me feel." I 
sighed with a smile.

"I've always said you complete me. It's glad to know I complete you too. I 
love you. I never get tired of saying that." He said rubbing my lower back 
with his fingers.

"Making up for lost time," I groaned his massages were the best. "I love you 
too."

"Ahem." Bill stood in front of the couch. I didn't know how long he had been 
there, but he didn't look happy. Actually, he looked as if he had been 
drinking and he had a nice sized bruise on his face. 

"Mom wants you in the kitchen, Dana, alone." He said.

I stretched in Fox's arms careful not the accidentally bop him in the head 
with my elbows. I kissed him briefly, "I'll be back." I promised.

Then I stood up giving Bill a warning look, I left the room.

I wonder what Mom wanted?
_____________________________________

Bill sat down on the easy chair across the room and he flipped on the TV. I 
felt bad for hitting him even though he was a pain-in-the-ass. Some deep 
sadistic part of my psyche really wanted to be friends with this guy. Yup 
definitely sadistic. Well, he was going to be my brother-in-law whether he 
liked it or not. I guess I could extend the hand of friendship.

I sat upright on the couch and ran my fingers through my hair."Uh, Bill, I'm 
sorry for earlier." I said.

"Forget about it..." he said.

"I really want us to call it truce okay." I said.  

"Look Mulder, I heard that whole sappy exchange between you and my sister. 
So, you make her happy. You're not getting any awards from me and since I 
can't talk any sense into Dana's thick skull then I guess I have to deal with 
you." He finished and I nodded in comprehension. Dana has a thick skull? 
She's not the only one.

"Well, I just want to be civil with you, Bill. I'm not marrying you, I'm 
marrying Dana. And I think that it's time for us to stop bickering and 
fighting. It's not healthy for Dana and it won't be healthy for our child." I 
took a deep breath, "Look, I didn't grow up with a whole lot of extended 
family and I don't want that for my children. I want them to know their 
cousins, aunts, and uncles, but I can't have that if you and I are at each 
other throats. I won't let my kid be witness to a repeat of what happened 
this morning. So, tell me now if you and I can't be decent to each other." I 
said very diplomatically.

"Sure, but don't think we're going to be best buds." He grumbled, flipping 
through the TV channels.

I smiled,"That hasn't even crossed my mind."

He found a Broncos game and we sat back and watched them play.
________________

I was on cloud nine. I suppose it's the hormones, but I feel like I'm 
floating. If Tara, or Maria would have said I was glowing, I'd believe them.

"You called for me, Mom?" I said, walking into the kitchen with a huge smile 
on my face. Maria and Tara smiled back at me and they quietly exited the room.

"Yes, Dana," Mom said in this imperial tone, "have a seat." I sat at the 
kitchen island where she was frosting cupcakes. I felt like I did when I was 
thirteen years old and she found out that I had snuck out with Melissa to the 
drive in so I could make out with my crush.

"What did I do?" I whined girlishly.

"You're pregnant and unmarried. It's what you didn't do." She said. I was 
expecting this conversation a couple of weeks ago when I first told her I was 
pregnant. Mom was a devout Catholic, and I was her only daughter now. And I 
was having a somewhat shotgun wedding, but I'm thirty-seven years old. I do 
believe this is my life, here, not hers. Wait. Don't get defensive, Dana, 
control them hormones.

I took a deep breath, "Mom," I said reaching for a finished cupcakes, but she 
slapped my hands. "I'm a grown woman. Fox and I love each other and we 
decided to express that love before marriage. And besides Fox and I have been 
together for seven long frustrating years. Our souls are already married and 
that's what should count."

"Yes, but Dana--" she stammered and I continued.

"I know this is not what you've expected of me. But I have to make my own 
life choices. You don't need to worry about your grandchild being born out of 
wedlock. I've talked to Fox and we both don't want that for our child."

"Dana--" I placed my hands over hers and she quieted again.

"I'm the happiest I've ever been in my whole life, Mom, and--"

"Dana!" she grabbed me and hugged me. She kissed my head and laughed, "I 
don't know how I must have sounded to you when you first came in here, but 
I'm not the least upset that you're pregnant or that you're just now getting 
married to Fox. You're all grown up now, and I know I've raised you right. I 
also know you wouldn't be in this situation if you really and truly didn't 
love him. A lot of dark things have happened to you and I'm glad that now a 
little light has finally shone in, because it has been long overdue... for 
the both of you." 

I was close to tears, "Then-then why?--"

"I was eavesdropping on you and Fox earlier and well...February 3rd?" she 
said with a smile.

"Yes." I said, it had been all long time since I've seen, Mom, that happy. 

"What kind of colors where you thinking of for the wedding party?"  She asked 
handing me a cupcake, which sparked along long conversation about the wedding.
__________________
6:00PM

It was six o'clock and I needed my Dana fix. I guessed she was still in the 
kitchen. I came into the kitchen and she sat across from her mother cutting 
out cookies, laughing about something. It was so great to see her laugh. I 
stood by the door frame and just watched for a moment until her mother winked 
at me. I blushed and Dana turned around.

"C'mere, help us cut out some cookies." Dana said, eating some cookie dough 
right out of the package.

"Sure." I said pulling up a chair. 

"Well, if you two have that."Maggie said wiping her hand on a towel. "I'm 
going into the dining room to set the table. Dinner should be ready soon." 
Grabbing the utensils and plates she left us alone.

Dana handed me a snowman shaped cookie cutter and showed me how to use it.

"First," she said placing her hand on mine," you place the cookie cutter on 
the dough like this." She smiled, "then you push it in ... like this. Then 
you give it a little wiggle." 

"Oh Dana." I moaned, jokingly, and she laughed.

"And then, you lift it up and it should be in the cookie cutter." She said 
lifting it up, turning it to me so I could see. "Then you take the cookie 
cutter and gently tap it on the baking sheet. It should come out." And not to 
my surprise it did. "Now you do one."

"I thought I just did." I said giving her my best puppy dog look.

"Nope, do one alone." She said rubbing my hand. It didn't hurt, but I still 
had the bruises on it. "We're in separate rooms you know." She sighed. I 
could here the wanting in her voice.

"Yeah, well, I kinda figured that." I said, as I started cookie cutting. She 
smiled as she watched me complete my task.

"You're going to be in Charlie's old room. I'm going to be in my old room. 
Maria and Charlie are going to be in Bill's old room and Bill and Tara are 
going to be in guest room with the baby downstairs." She said.

"Okay so how far am I from," I cleared my throat, "said destination."

"Oh, about twenty-six feet." She whispered in my ear. 

"Well, how about at say midnight we--" Suddenly, Bill walked in and I, 
quickly, shut up. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and left.

"Midnight?" Dana said.

"Midnight." I promised and she kissed me.
___________________________
11:54PM.

Six minutes too midnight and my body was throbbing with anticipation.

Dinner came and went quickly. We all had a good conversation about old times. 
Fox even added a few stories of his own. After dinner we all sat in the 
living room and continued talking. It was wonderful. Bill even began warming 
up to Fox, much to my surprise. 

But now, now it was our time. I was a little upset when Mom told me the 
sleeping arrangements, Fox and I were getting married, I was pregnant with 
this man's child I should be able to sleep with him, but it's her house. I 
wasn't going to argue.

"Mmm Charlie." I heard Maria moan through the thin walls. I have to remember 
that when we make love tonight. We can't be as vocal as we usually are, but 
it'll be good nevertheless. I heard a manly groan on the other size of the 
walls and then, I heard a female voice say "Shh" and then laugh.  I laughed. 
I don't feel as guilty now since Fox and I aren't the only ones.

The clock stroked midnight. The lights were off. I was lying on my bed, naked 
as a jaybird. The door of my room was unlocked and Fox's tall figure stalked 
into my room and gently close the door. I heard him gasp slightly at the 
sight of my nude body and I saw his hardness begin to tent his drawstring 
pajama pants.

He came towards me and began stripping. He took off his shirt. I got off of 
the bed and I slid down his pants leaving him naked before me. Only sound in 
the room was that of our heavy breathing. I kissed his exposed chest and 
licked his nipples. He choked back a groan trying to keep quite. He grabbed 
my breast and squeezed them pinching my nipples I gasped and smiled kneeling 
down in front of him.

"Dana," he whispered a plea to stop. He grabbed my shoulders trying to pull 
me up.

"Shh." I said and he whimpered. I licked the head of his cock and he 
shuddered, biting his bottom lip. I licked him from base to tip until he was 
sweating. I took him in my mouth and sucked. I always knew when he had, had 
enough. He'd get this wild look in his eyes, it wasn't quite there yet, I 
mused. I took my hand and stroked him as I sucked him. He began to make these 
low noises in the back of his throat. He suddenly grabbed my head and reared 
back from me. I looked into his eyes and there it was. That look. The look 
that made me drip.

He pulled me up from the floor and laid me on the bed. He kissed me hard on 
the mouth and then traveled lower down my neck to my breast, where he 
suckled. I choked back my own groan and arched into him. One of his thighs 
was right between my legs I began rubbing myself on him, leaving a trail of 
wetness on his thigh, he smiled.

"Can't wait can you?" he whispered in my ear. He kissed his way down my torso 
stopping to place a gentle kiss on my abdomen where the baby was. That had 
been his ritual ever since he found out I was pregnant. He nipped the top of 
my cunt and I almost cried out loudly. I ran my fingers through his hair as 
he thrusted one long finger inside me. He pulled me to the edge of the bed 
and placed my feet on his shoulders. He pulled the finger he had inside me 
out and placed it on my lips.

"Suck." He whispered. I didn't think I could be more aroused than that 
moment. I sucked his finger, sucking my juices off as he parted my lips and 
began to suck on my clit. Now I knew why he wanted me to suck his finger it 
was to keep me from screaming my head off in ecstasy. It didn't take long for 
me to come. He nibbled and licked and sucked and that was it. I was flying 
and see stars and my hips were shaking.

He didn't wait for me to come back down from my last orgasmic rush before he 
lifted us both up to the center of the bed and entered me. His tongue 
replaced his finger as he began to thrust hard with in me, making me gasp and 
whimper underneath him.

Jesus, this feeling was so, so good.

I felt the pleasure quake again. I placed my hands on his chest as it snapped 
and exploded. I groaned into his mouth when I came again. He kissed my neck 
and cheek and then my mouth, but he still wasn't done.

I lied back and watched him. He looked into my eyes, his forehead dropped to 
mine and I knew he was close. He slowed his thrust a bit. He wanted to make 
this last. He was going so slow and hard I bit my lip from moaning his name. 
Then I was overwhelmed by it all, feelings came and hit me even stronger than 
before. I felt myself beginning to orgasm again and I got scared. This felt 
different, too different, too good, too intense. I grabbed his neck.

"Fox." I whimpered. He heard the fear in my voice and kissed me.

"Let it happen." He whispered.

"I-I can't!" I said trying to fight this place he was taking me with every 
thrust of his hips. Then it happened. It spread out from the center of my 
being to top of my head, down to the tips of my toes. Every nerve ending was 
alive, it brought tear of joy and satisfaction to my eyes. I through my head 
back and he kissed me swallowing my loud cry.

I barely registered that he had came and he was lying, spent, on top of me. 
Kissing me gently, holding me close.

"You're crying." He said, in a quiet whisper, wiping my tears.

"That was...indescribable." I whispered as he moved off of me. He wrapped his 
arms around me and kissed my shoulder and neck.

"Yes, it was." He smiled.

"I love you." I said, sleepily.

"I love you too. Always." He yawned.

"Always." 

Later on, before dawn. I opened my eyes and he kissed me and touched my 
stomach.

"Shh, Go back to sleep." He whispered. And I nodded.

The last thing I saw before I went to sleep was his smiling face. I had good 
dreams. 


*********************************
Baby said he couldn't stay, wouldn't put his lips to mine,
And a fail to kiss is a fail to cope

**********************************
Maggie Scully's house
December 21
9:00AM

I woke up in my own bed dressed in only my drawstring pants. I hope I didn't 
leave my shirt in her room. With the way Maggie cleans she was bound to find 
it if I did. I slowly got out of bed and stretched. I went to the bathroom 
and took a shower. I checked the clock...9:30. There was a fifty percent 
chance that my little red headed angel was still asleep. I threw on a pair of 
jeans and a clean white T-shirt and went to check up on my Dana. I opened her 
bedroom door and all I found was a spotless room and an empty bed. I sighed. 
Oh well, I'll try downstairs. 

I went downstairs and the smell of blueberries assaulted my senses. I went in 
the kitchen and Maggie was cooking blueberry pancakes. She turned to me and 
handed me a plate of pancakes. 

"If you're looking for Dana, she's at the mall with Maria and Tara." She 
said, then she smiled. "Oh and your shirt is in the wash." My eyes went wide 
and I blushed.

"I'm sorry we--um, we-" I stuttered trying to find an excuse. She smirked at 
me and gave me the infamous Scully eyebrow.

"You don't have to explain. I'll just act like it never happened, as usual, 
you two aren't the only engaged couple that snuck around in the night, you 
know. At least, you didn't forget your underwear or to pick up the condom 
wrapper, the list goes on..." She handed me the syrup. I sat down at the 
kitchen island and began eating the delicious pancakes. "Orange juice?"
 
"Please?" I said, with my mouth full. I love my Mom, but she could never make 
food this tasty.

"So..." she began, "What did you get Dana for Christmas?" she said and I 
smiled. So, this is Dana's plan. She was trying to get me to tell what her 
present was since before we came here, but I wasn't going to tell her yet. I 
wanted it to be a complete surprise. And boy was she going to be shocked. 
Now, all I had to do is shake of my future mother-in-law.

"Oh just a little this, a little that." I said. She nodded.

"A little what?" she asked.

"A little something." I said, I could see her frustration with me.

"A little something of what?" 

"Look, Maggie...Mom, I want it to be a surprise. So tell your lovely daughter 
to quit trying to squeeze me for info." I finished my pancakes, downed my 
orange juice and stood up. I kissed Maggie on the cheek. "That goes for you 
too." 

She laughed, " Sometimes, I forget your a Federal Agent." She said hugging me.

Bill walked in...then he walked out.

"He still doesn't like me."

"He doesn't like anyone around us women." Maggie sighed, "Charlie's in the 
back he was looking for you earlier."

"Earlier? What time do you all get up?" I asked.

"Well, the girl were up at six and they left at seven. That's when the malls 
open up. Charlie and I woke up around 8:00. Bill just got up."

"Well, at least I'm not the late one." I said, she laughed. "I'm going to see 
what Charlie's up to. Talk to you later, Mom." I said leaving the kitchen.

"Okay sweetie."
_______________________________
The Mall
10:00AM

"I'm not going to get that fat am I?" I said looking in the window of a 
maternity store. There was a big purple tent like dress and I wasn't looking 
forward to being that big.

"Dana, during this pregnancy your ass will spread to cosmic proportions." 
Tara said pushing Matthew who sat happily in his stroller playing with a 
little teddy bear.

"Charlie and I decided to wait, but things don't always go as planned." Maria 
exclaimed, I looked her up and down. God, I remember when my breast where 
that perky and my ass was that tight. When guys referred to it as 'Grade 'A'. 
 Not that it's all gone to hell now, but my body now is a far cry from when I 
was twenty.

"Are you pregnant Maria?" Tara asked and my eyes grew wide. I stared at 
Charlie's wife with a huge smile.

"Yeah." She said, smiling.

"How long?"

"Does Charlie know?"  Tara and I asked at the same time.

"Not yet. I thought that it would make a neat Christmas present. I'm only 
about four weeks." She said and we hugged her.

"This is great." I said.

"Yeah and here I thought Matty was going to be an only cousin on this side of 
the family for a while."

I looked back at the huge purple dress again, "Am I fat?" I asked and Tara 
laughed.

"Oy!" she said, hugging me, "'Horrormones'" she said, turning to Maria."They 
are going to drive you to murder over the next few months. And no, love, 
you're not fat, your pregnant."

I hope she was right cause at that moment I felt as if I could fit into that 
big ass dress and then some. God, I was visualizing myself in that thing 
holding two of Fox's kids and very pregnant with a third. I didn't mind, but 
it was a scary thought. Especially, since for the last couple of years I've 
been enjoying single life. Let me correct that. My single professional life. 
I had no single life before Fox.

"So ... do you know what he's getting you?' Maria asked as we walked the mall.

"Not really. He's been very secretive lately." I said. I've been trying like 
crazy to get him to talk, but nooo he was being stubborn saying: 

"It's a surprise Dana, that means you find out about it Christmas. No sooner, 
no later."

So I've been patient. I've been trying to get Walter to scream and bagger it 
out of him, but that never worked. This morning, I asked Mom. I hope she had 
better luck. No man can resist her cooking and her sweet charm.

"It's something big." Maria said, "Charlie was secretive right before he 
asked me to marry him. I mean for weeks before he asked me. I thought he was 
cheating on me."

"Well, he's already asked me to marry him. So, that's not it. I wonder what 
it is, though. I mean if it was something really big I think he'd tell me." I 
said, we learned not to keep secrets from each other. It was a rule in our 
relationship. Not to keep big secrets.

"Not if he wants it to be a surprise." Tara said. "Want a pretzel?" she said 
stopping at an Aunt Anne's pretzel stand.

"Sure." I said.

I'll definitely find out what it is when we get home, even if I have to shoot 
him....again.
_________________
The Park
11:00AM

I was at the park down the street from Maggie's house. I was on the 
basketball court playing one-on-one with Charlie. Prove to him us old guys 
can still whoop the young bloods asses when necessary. I made the final shot 
"Game point." I said, "Take this as a learning experience."

"Yeah, yeah." Charlie huffed as the ball went swish into the hoop.

"No more tough talk now huh? Yeah whose the old bastard now." I said putting 
him in a head lock. We wrestled for a while. He was the little brother I 
never had. And for some odd reason I felt that I was the older brother 
Charlie never had.

We sat on the ground and opened up our bottles of water we brought.  I 
remember when I was twenty-six. Yup, young and cocky. Now, I'm old and cocky. 
Oh well.

"So you ready to be a father?" Charlie asked me, throwing me a towel.

"Honestly," I began, I wiped my face and laid the towel on my head, "Not in 
the least, but I tell you one thing, I wouldn't trade it in for anything 
else." 

"Well, I'm going be a father and I just wanted to know if I was the only one 
that feels way over their head." He said and I turned to him.

"Are you serious?" I asked smiling.

"She hasn't told me yet, but well, you see her doctor called and unwittingly 
gave me the news." He said shyly smiling.

I shook his hand and hugged him, "Congrats."

"Thanks. It wasn't planned, but I wouldn't change it for the world either." 
He said.

"Well, we both are very lucky." I said and I knew for Dana and I it was a big 
understatement. My cell phone rang. I picked it up. I walked away from 
Charlie and answered it.

"Mulder. Yes. Yeah . It's ready. Yellow. Tell me it's yellow. *Sigh* Well is 
the rest is done? Good, Good. Um just send them to the Maryland address I 
gave you. No, not that one, the other one. You made a video tape. You guys 
are insane. Yeah, screw you too. Later." I smiled everything was almost done. 
Almost perfect.

She was going to love her surprise.

*********************************
I said, " Honey, I don't feel so good, don't feel justified.
Come on put a little love here in my void,"-he said
"It's all in your head," and I said, "So's everything"-
But he didn't get it-I thought he was a man
But he was just a little boy
*********************************
3:00PM
Maggie Scully's home

We arrived home a quarter to three and Fox was gone. He had gone for an hour, 
nobody knew where he ran off to, and he took the car. I was worried about 
him. The last time we came to Mom's house things turned out badly, which 
caused us to break up for a brief, but sad period of time.

I always hated when he ran off to God knows where alone. That was his 
misguided way of protecting me. I don't know why he'd run off now. There 
weren't any X-files. Skinner knew not to call us here, while we were on 
vacation. So where the hell did he go? I thought and for the umpteenth time I 
looked out of the window.

"Maybe, he went to get a gift for you or Mom." Charlie said, behind me. "I'm 
sure he's fine."

I knew the truth though. Fox William Mulder wasn't fine. He hadn't been fine 
for a while. What was I thinking making him coming here with all these 
people? All my family? He was still mourning the loss of his mother. And here 
I am running to the mall at the crack of dawn, leaving him all alone with my 
Mom. Very sensitive, Dana.

Suddenly, I heard him come through the door. I ran to the door and threw 
myself into his arms.

"Were where you?" I yelled.

"You're upset. Are you upset?" he asked.

Sometimes this man irritated me to no end. "Yes, why did you run off?"

"I just had a few last minute errands that needed to be done and I stopped at 
a 7-11 and got you some Ben and Jerry...Chunky Monkey?" he said brandishing 
the bag. I kissed his cheek and then I snatched the bag. 

"You could at least left a note." I walked into the kitchen, he followed 
behind me. Sensing an imminent talking to, he sat down on a kitchen stool and 
waited for me to begin. Well, I knew how to fix his ass.

"Well?" he said, letting his anticipation for the worst take over.

"Well what?" I said opening up my ice cream and getting a spoon. 

"Aren't you going to yell? Give me a lecture?" he said. He truly was a 
glutton for punishment.

"Fox," I said sitting across from him, "you're nearly forty years old. I 
trust that you're not getting in any trouble, despite your past history, and 
I know you're not cheating on me. Yes, when you leave I get all crazy and I 
worry, even more so now while I'm pregnant, but your a grown man. I trust 
you. Just next time leave a note." I ate a spoonful of ice cream and moaned. 
God, I love Ben and Jerry.

Mulder sat on the other side of the kitchen table with his mouth hanging 
open. Then he smiled. "This is just a mood swing, I'm going to get it later, 
aren't I?" he said.

"Nope. Not a mood swing." I hummed.

"Wow." He rubbed the back of his neck absentmindedly.

"Just remember," I said menacingly, "next time, if there's no note, I will 
personally chew you out so bad I'll make Skinner look like an innocent little 
puppy." I warned and his smile vanished. He nodded and rose from his seat.

"I'll be back. I'm just going into the living room to talk to Charlie." He 
said warily.

"Proceed." I said and he kissed my cheek and left. I watched him leave. "Men 
are so easy." I whispered.

Later, I'll get him to talk about his Mom.
__________________________________ 

Whew.

I thought she was going to kick my ass. When I left the house I got about 
three miles outside of town and I realized that I should've left a note. She 
probably was worried sick about me. She had been coddling me since my Mom 
died. I didn't need coddling. I needed a little space. Everyone deals with 
grief a different way. My way, was to ignore it. I was enjoying the time I 
had with her Mom anyway. It was way better than the times I had with my Mom.  

Enough of thinking about her. Now, I had to think about Scully and our child. 
And the great surprise I had for her. To complete my little gift I need a 
coconspirator, though. Bill was out of the question, but I've found a little 
bro. in Charlie. 

"Hey Charlie, can I talk to you ... alone?" I asked him and lead him out of 
the living room to the verandah outside.

"Sure, What's up?" he said sitting down on a chair.

"I need you to help me, but first you have to swear to me that you will not 
tell anyone about this conversation or anything that has to do with this 
conversation. " I said, slipping into my G-man role.

"Sure." He said weakly. I sized him up for a good while.

"I need you to help me put together a crib." I said finally.

"You two don't even have a place to put a crib Fox, Why would you?" he asked 
and then stopped looking up at me from his seat. "I'm on a need to know 
basis, aren't I?" he said

"Yup." I said.

He smiled. "When and where?"

"Late tonight into tomorrow morning, in the garage. Can you manage that?"  I 
asked. He smiled.

"Yes, sir." He saluted me and I smiled.

"Thanks Charlie. I owe you big time."

"Anytime, Bro." he said. 

*********************************
Hunger hurts and I wanna him so bad-oh it kills
Cuz I know I'm a mess he don't wanna clean up
I got to fold cause these hands are too shaky to hold
**********************************
Christmas Eve
10:00PM

I lie alone in my room on my bed. My face was flushed from crying earlier. 
We're not talking and it's my fault. I don't know why it's so important for 
me to see him grieve for his mother. Maybe because I know it's been a real 
hard year for him ... for me, for us.  

It all started last night, after we went to Father Laggan's Christmas Pageant 
at the church. I went to light memorial candles for Missy, Daddy and I lit a 
candle for Teena. Fox watched behind me. I knelt and made the sign of the 
cross.

"Protect those we've lost and those we've yet to gain." I said. I closed my 
eyes briefly and touched my stomach. I turned around to Fox, but he was gone. 
I quickly walked outside and he was waiting in the car. 

"Why did you leave?" I asked concerned.

"I just didn't want you to asked me to say some kind of prayer." He admitted 
turning on the car.

"Oh, well, if I asked and you said 'no' I wouldn't be upset. " I lied. He 
gave me a disbelieving look and started driving. "I wouldn't" I mumbled and 
he smirked.

We drove along the road quietly. I turned towards him in my seat. His eyes 
were focus on the road and his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. He 
was agitated.

"It's just that we haven't talked about your mom's death since the night I 
finished the autopsy." I said in a really small voice.

"Yes and that was all I had to say. Why do you have to drag this on and on, 
Dana? My Mom is dead. It was a tragedy."  He said raising his voice.

"Don't yell at me please." 

"I'm not--" he lowered his voice, "I'm not yelling. I'm just trying ti bet 
you to understand that I'm tired of you trying to get me to share my feelings 
especially since for seven years you were ... fine!" his words stung like a 
slap in the face.

"Well, I thought now that we were getting married, starting a family ... we 
could be more open with each other. I guess I was wrong." I turned back in my 
seat and pouted.

"Dana." He said in a warm gentle voice.

"No, I have nothing further to discuss with you." I said coldly.

"Well, Dana. " He began harshly, "To code your favorite phrase. Fine!"

"Fine!" and that was that.

Now it was Christmas Eve. I didn't see him this morning because he went 
somewhere with Charlie, nor did I see him this afternoon. I wanted to 
apologize, but he was nowhere to be found. Finally about an hour ago he 
showed up. He told me he wanted to talk tonight. I'm just hoping that it 
isn't "the talk." You know, the "maybe this isn't working out" speech.

At 10:15 I heard a knock on my bedroom door. I got up and wiped my face. I 
looked at myself in the mirror. I straightened up my hair and clothing, and 
answered the door.

"Hey." He said and smiled. He held up some mistletoe, "Forgive me?" he asked.

I smiled and grabbed his face in my hands and kissed him.

"I love you, Fox. I'm so sorry about last night." 

"Shh. I'm sorry Dana. I said some really stupid things last night." He said 
and lead us to sit on the bed, "You're right about us needing to talk. But it 
hurts Dana. The whole deal with my Mom hurts. I don't even want to think or 
talk about it now, but when I do you'll be the first person I'll come to. 
You'll always be the first one I come to."

"I-I know," I said getting a little too emotional, "it's just that when my 
Dad died, you were there. And when Missy died, you were there. And then 
Emily. I just wanted to be there for you."

"You are there for me, Dana. Even when you don't know it." He kissed my 
forehead.

"Make love to me?' I asked in a tiny whisper.

"You never ever have to ask." He said slowly unbuttoning my shirt.

We fell asleep entangled in each other's arms and this time he didn't leave.

_____________________
7:00AM
Christmas Morning

I woke up like a five year old, I sat up straight in the bed and shook Dana 
awake.

"Dana," she groaned and rolled away, "Dana it's Christmas, wake up."

She smiled with her eyes still closed, "I know, Fox, go back to sleep." She 
yawned.

I kissed her nose and forehead and chin and she groaned. "Wake up." I 
whispered after every kiss and she opened her eyes.

"Okay, okay. I'm awake." She said, stretching. 

"Put your robe on." I said getting dressed quickly. I couldn't wait to give 
Dana her big present. Her really big present. I wouldn't be surprised if she 
passed out.  I watched her slowly putting her clothes on and then her robe. 
She slipped on her fuzzy black slippers and plodded out of the room. I 
wrapped my hands on her waist and followed behind her.

She stopped in front of her mom's bedroom door. "Ma, it's Christmas." She 
said. I heard Maggie happily come out of her room, humming "Silver Bells" and 
knock on everyone else's door as we walked downstairs.

The tree was magnificent. Decorated in white lights. It looked even more 
beautiful now than it did when they first decorated. Boxes of neatly wrapped 
boxes surrounded the bottom of the tree. Dana instantly lighted up and smiled.

"Wow." She said.

"Wow indeed."  I agreed.

"I've missed this." She sighed, "Merry Christmas, Love." She kissed me and 
left me breathless.

"Merry Christmas to you too."

Charlie and Maria bounded down the stairs like hyper two year olds and 
attacked the presents under the tree as Bill grumbled his way down the 
stairs, Tara followed behind him holding a sleeping Matthew in one arm and a 
rubbing Bill's back with her hand. Maggie came downstairs and announced she 
was making coffee then she disappeared into the kitchen.

"So." Dana pointed towards the gifts and I picked up one reasonably sized 
gold wrapped box that said: "To Dana" on it. I handed it to her and she 
excitedly ripped the wrapping off and opened the box.

"Oh this is the sweater I wanted, I love your memory." She exclaimed, kissing 
my cheek. She quickly got up and handed me a box that I opened up in record 
time and revealed a nice shirt and tie. 

It went on like that for a while we took turns opening gifts from each other 
and gifts from the family until all the gifts were opened and wrapping paper 
swamped the room. when everything was opened Maggie came back into the room 
with coffee and hot cocoa and sat down. She everyone grabbed a cup of what 
they wanted and watched her as she sat down and opened her presents.

"Oh thank you, Fox! How did you know I like Susan Grafton!" she said happily 
showed everyone the book I gave her. The hard copy book "O is for Outlaw".

"Dana told me you liked mysteries. So I used some of my G-man skills to kind 
of figure out." I boasted and Dana laughed.

"So you're basically saying you just looked on her bookshelf?" Dana asked.

"Yup."

Everyone laughed even Bill. I guess he was happy with the gift certificate to 
Radio Shack I got him.  

Maria stood up and tapped her spoon against her cup and everyone grew silent.

"Uh, I-I have one more gift to give Charlie, "She said quietly and then 
handed him a small little box. He opened it and it was a picture frame. I 
laughed quietly inside cause I knew what it was. And I knew he knew what it 
was. But Maria didn't know he knew so Charlie had to play Mr. Surprised and 
Amazed.

"What is this?" he asked pulling out a small picture frame that said, with 
rainbow colored letters on the top, "Baby's First Picture".

"That's our child Charlie, I'm pregnant." He looked at her in feigned shock 
then picked her up and hugged her. He winked at me and I laughed. 
"Congratulations Charlie." I said before Bill could decipher the situation.

"I'm going to be a Father everyone." He said and Dana stood up and kissed him 
on the cheek. Maggie sat in the recliner in shock. Tara smiled and kissed 
Maria as Matthew stirred in her arms.

"All our kids are going to be playmates." She said hugging, him. Maggie stood 
up and hugged her baby boy.

"Oh, my baby is having a baby." She said teary eyed. I just sat back on the 
couch and watched. This was what a family should be. What I wish my family 
would've been.

When everyone settled down it was my turn to make an announcement. I stood up 
and tapped my cup.

"I have something to give Dana." I began.

"Are you pregnant?" Charlie asked and we all laughed.

"No X-files..Please," I pleaded, "it's to big to give to her in now, but it's 
waiting for her in Virginia." I went into my coat and reached into of it's 
inside pocket. I pulled out a large manilla envelope with a small bow on it. 
"Here."

She opened the envelope quickly and pulled out a videotape and a few still 
pictures. Her eyes went wide and she looked up at me.

_______________

I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A large Victorian house with what from 
the photos looked like it had several rooms and sunken living room with a 
fireplace. It was a fully furnished house, with a large kitchen and dining 
room. I flipped through the photos in awe.

"How did you? How could you?" I stuttered, "Mom look, it's a house!" she said 
showing her Mom the photos and everyone crowded around. Charlie smile at me. 

"It's not completely livable, but it should be in two weeks. There was work 
needed on the roof and a new ceiling was needed. You wanna see the tape?"  
She smiled so wide at me, she beamed.

He took the tape and turned on the VCR. He put the tape in a pressed PLAY.

"Merry Christmas, Scully." The Lone Gunmen said together they showed her the 
baby's nursery complete with crib and other furniture.

"Mulder said he wanted yellow, but we thought mint green suited you guys. Oh 
and congratulations on your engagement and your pregnancy." Langely said.

"Yeah, Yeah." Frohikie muttered in the background.

"I hope you like it. Congratulations again. See you around." Byers said and 
the tape went black.

"So.." Fox said, a little apprehensively."Do you like it?"

I was crying. I couldn't believe he actually brought a house. He amazed me so 
much sometimes. " Oh Fox, I loved it and I can't wait to see it with my own 
eyes." I said wiping tears away from my eyes.

He hugged me and I kissed him with all the love I had for him.

"Enough with this mushy crap let's have some breakfast." Bill announced 
standing up and we all laughed. Everyone proceeded to the dining room and Mom 
announced that she was making her famous blueberry pancakes. While Fox and I 
stayed on the couch for a minute.

"Dana this has been the greatest Christmas I had in a while. Thank you for 
inviting me. It meant a lot." He said.

"I've never loved anyone as much as I love you right now, Fox." 

"Ditto." He hugged me close.

"Merry Christmas, Fox." I whispered.

"Merry Christmas, Dana." 

_______________________
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

(Sorry this story is a little late!)