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Being the grown child of a Navy captain, Special Agent Doctor Dana Scully learned early on in life to just expect the unexpected. Moving around the globe instilled the concept.
Scully did her best to maintain stability in her adult life. Especially now that she worked for the Federal Bureau Of Investigation. But it all changed after knocking on the basement office door of Special Agent Fox Mulder for the first time.
Now unpredictability was just part of her everyday life. And she’d learned to enjoy it. Otherwise? She would have spent the youth of her government career as an office drone with medical knowledge. On balance… That sounded boring to her. And it would to anyone.
Perhaps this was why she didn’t feel irritated about the fact that she and Mulder were at a roadside motel in Boulder, Colorado on Christmas Day. The case was over. Unfortunately… Rather a freak blizzard was keeping them stranded. Travel was extremely inadvisable for anyone. So the pair found themselves having an unusual but cozy holiday together. What mattered most? Each was content.
Still… Scully’s mind was elsewhere. Momentarily.
OCTOBER
The autumn afternoon there in Home, Pennsylvania would have been pleasant… were Mulder and Scully not in town to investigate one of the worst kinds of deaths they had ever seen. At best? Scully just wanted to leave. The sooner, the better. But desertion was highly unprofessional. And so she stayed.
Quite understandably, Scully was grateful to have left Sheriff Taylor’s tall Mayberry-esque station-house. The sight of the tiny homicide victim was truly depressing for anyone who had a soul. Anyone who denied it? Well, Scully felt she would consider them an unhinged liar. That was that.
As they exited the building, the sound of a baby crying in their stroller while he or she were being pushed along by their mother brought Scully relief. It meant goodness was still in the world. On top of that… the little one had a chance at a solid future.
Bringing herself to speak, Scully told Mulder, “Imagine all a woman’s hopes for her child… and then nature turns so cruel. What must a mother go through?”
“Apparently not much in this case,” reflected Mulder. “If she just threw it out with the trash.”
Each partner sat together on a nearby bench. The townsfolk of Home went about on their way to do ordinary things. Mulder and Scully? They saw only each other.
Trying again after a few more moments went by, Scully said, “I… I guess I was just projecting on myself.”
Now Mulder found himself trying to not think about what they’d just seen as he voiced his own response. “Why? Is there a history of genetic abnormalities in your family?”
Scully answered, “No.”
“Well, just find yourself a man with spotless genetic make-up and a really high tolerance for being second-guessed,” Mulder quipped. “And start pumping out the little Uber-Scullys.”
Now she felt appreciative of her partner’s optimism. And so Scully smiled at Mulder. But she relaxed visibly when he gave her a broad backrub. Her heart even skipped a beat. So did Mulder’s. Each enjoyed moments like this one because the bond they had was extremely unique. And they knew it. Sometimes… It felt as if they had been lovers in a previous lifetime. Even that thought was extremely thrilling.
Scully spoke again. “What about you?”
Pulled from his thoughts about imagining forever with Scully, Mulder could only say, “Hm?”
When he looked at her for clarification, the expression on her face was one of inquiry. But in full truth? She had just had a vision, or something, of the two of them in the future. And just what did she see? Rather a lot. A countryside house, them content in retirement, kids, a Jack Russell Terrier dog, perfection. Scully loved everything she saw. And she was content to wait.
But her partner spoke again. “Well… Aside from the need for corrective lenses and a tendency to be abducted by extraterrestrials involved in an international governmental conspiracy, the Mudler family passes genetic muster.”
Both partners then just fell quiet as they soaked up the pleasantness of the afternoon. Just for a little bit longer? They were the only two people in the world.
PRESENT DAY
CHRISTMAS 1996
Mulder considered Scully to be his best friend. And he could figure her out. Usually.
But today, the man was just confused. One thing he’d learned very early on about Scully was that she happened to be rather family-oriented. Belonging to a tightly-knit clan more than showed so. Everyone could see it.
The part that had Mulder confused, however, was Christmas Day in and of itself. They were trapped in this no-name roadside Coloradan motel because the man upstairs had chosen to dump an abrupt blizzard of epic proportions on them that day. They had what it took to survive the crisis. However… Mulder had not heard Scully make a peep about being away from her family on such an important holiday. And it had him stumped.
Scully turned away from where she’d been looking outside at the blank snowy daytime landscape that was the motel parking lot. A smattering of cars, including their own rental, were there. But each had become buried by the snow. And it was only getting worse. Digging all the vehicles out sounded like a motherlode of a chore.
Then Scully’s heart brightened. Mulder sat on his bed by the door.
Last Scully knew, he had gone to the bathroom to change into loungewear. Scully was privately pleased with what she saw. Mulder sat cross-legged in a pair of sweatpants, his trademark New York Knicks jersey, and an open flannel shirt. Scully liked seeing him so casual. But she knew him well enough by now to know that the look on his face meant that he was presently lost in thought. And Scully felt curious.
Herself dressed in comfortable pajama pants, an old t-shirt depicting a long-past Rolling Stones tour, and an open flannel robe, Scully passed the table where their unopened Christmas presents were laid out. Then she sat opposite Mulder on the bed. Nearby, the television set depicted the old black and white holiday film called The Shop Around The Corner. But Scully didn’t fail to notice it was mute. Coincidentally, Mulder had stopped the audio so he could think straight. A rarity.
But Scully fell even more in love with Mulder on the spot when he lit up in delight just because she’d sat in front of him.
God. I would give anything to spend forever with him, she thought.
God, I would give anything to spend forever with her, he thought.
“Hi.” Mulder cleared his throat. “Something up?”
Scully lifted one eyebrow playfully. “I don’t know, Mister Oxford Psychologist. Is there?”
Playing dumb, now Mulder said, “What do you mean?”
“I know that deep contemplative look on your face. Okay?” Scully ever-so-briefly cupped Mulder’s face in her hands. “You need to ask me something. Please share.”
Melting at her kind touch, Mulder said at once, “How are you not irritated?”
“You mean,” Scully said carefully. “Because I’m here with you in Colorado and not with my mom at her house on Christmas Day?”
“Uh-huh.” said Mulder. “That.”
“I miss my mom when I don’t see her for awhile because she’s my mother,” Scully reflected. “But honestly? I’ve always been used to unpredictability when it comes to holiday plans. Being an adult Navy brat taught me that life-skill. Or whatever. And…”
“Yes?” Mulder prompted. “What is it?”
Scully sighed, “Remind me later to tell you the full details about Independence Day when I was four.”
“Okay. I can do that.” Mulder vowed. “May I at least ask the punchline?”
“I broke my left leg. And,” Scully gave a nervous chuckle. “That was the day that my brother Charlie was born.”
Mulder cried, “What?”
“I promise you that that’s all true.” Scully told him. “Precious Charlie was born in England on the Fourth Of July.”
Mulder asked, “Then what about your big brother?”
Scully said, “Billy was also born in England. But that was when my parents were first stationed there. Family lore says Billy was even born en route to the hospital. But… Hmm… I guess that his trait of obnoxious impatience has been with him for his entire life.”
“Quite literally.” Mulder joked before pulling himself together. “That’s two out of the four. Come on. Where was Melissa born? U.K. again?”
Scully shook her head. “Missy was born during an actual drought.”
Extremely taken aback, Mulder asked, “But where?!”
Scully didn’t miss a beat. “Nagoya, Japan.”
Mulder continued to hang on to every word because he felt completely amazed. “I… What? Did your family get sent to The Land Of The Rising Sun because of the Navy?”
“Mhm.” said Scully. “I promise you that that is exactly what happened.”
Shaking his head in wonder, Mulder briefly counted names on his fingers before asking, “Then where are you from?”
“Me? I’m from Annapolis. But,” Scully jerked one thumb over a shoulder to indicate the outdoors in general. “According to my mother? I was born during a blizzard of epic proportions. How is that for wild?”
“Very.” Mulder said in solidarity. “All the same… Even with every ounce of that uniqueness going on, you really don’t mind being away from your family?”
“Mm-mm. But,” Scully gave Mulder a heartwarming smile. “I should say that that’s because you are also my family.”
Mulder only just kept from proposing as he murmured, “Wow…”
“You make me happy. But you also never stopped looking for me during the Skyland Incident. And I do know that you got to know my mother during that time. Even Melissa. The fact that you three were so connected means the world to me. I mean it. So how could I not think of you as my family from there?” Scully gently squeezed Mulder’s hands. “Just what exactly would you be doing if we were back home right now? Be honest with me. I won’t judge.”
Pulling himself together this time because of the kind words she had just laid out, Mulder answered, “I would just be back home in my apartment by myself. And I’d probably have takeout while watching something on the television. Ever since my sister… Well… Christmas is just another day. I’m not a Grinch. But…”
Scully guessed, “It is what it is?”
Mulder said, “Exactly. Not even my own mother stays home.”
Scully asked curiously, “Where does Teena go?”
“Warm places.” Mulder answered. “She’s a native-born Floridian.”
“Woah. Florida?” Scully said earnestly. “Where exactly was Teena born?”
“Key West. It’s just so hot there. But mom stays up north because we’re now all each other has, out of the Martha’s Vineyard Mulders. Anyway…” Mulder quickly centered himself so he didn’t go plunging down a rabbit hole. “This year, Teena went to California because she’d never been there.”
“That sounds cool.” Scully reflected. “But that still would have left you alone.”
“Good point.” Mulder agreed.
“Then I am especially not irritated about not being with everyone else because you and I are here. Together.” Scully said. “My heart is full.”
Once again refraining from a proposal, Mulder told Scully in truth, “Mine also is. You have been my family since day one. And you know? I’m really having the time of my life.”
Scully’s heart leapt in love as she returned, “So am I. Mulder… May I ask you something different?”
“Of course.” he said.
“What do you see when you look at the future?” Scully said. “Be honest again. Please. Do you see a place like Home in Pennsylvania?”
Mulder shook his head as he remembered back to their conversation on the pick-up lot about settling down. “Mm-mm. Not anymore. I see a countryside house, kids, a Jack Russell Terrier, just a unique and unkempt perfection. Does that sound odd?”
Vastly amazed, Scully said breathlessly, “No. Uh… Great minds think alike.”
Mulder asked, “How alike?”
Scully admitted with great bashfulness, “Identically.”
“Am I dreaming?” Mulder blurted. “You also see those things when you think about your own future?”
Scully told him, “Guilty.”
Wondering not even for the first time if they were cosmically connected, Mulder said, “It’s nothing to feel guilty about. To be truthful? I’m really amazed. Anything else?”
Now choosing bravery, Scully answered, “You were there.”
“And,” Mulder gently squeezed Scully’s fingers this time. “So were you.”
Deciding that she’d pinch herself later, Scully said, “If nothing’s happened in the future… Do you…? I mean…”
Mulder said without hesitating because he meant it, “Yes.”
And Scully breathed a sigh of relief she hadn’t realized she was holding as she said, “My God. Have we just…?”
“Outlined our futures together?” now Mulder pulled Scully into his arms and onto his lap as he leaned against the bed’s headboard. “I promise you that that’s exactly what just happened here. And I also promise that neither of us are dreaming. Okay?”
Melting into his arms and leaning against his chest, Scully murmured, “Okay…”
“But you know,” Mulder gently rubbed Scully’s more outward arm. “I already love it.”
Sighing in content, Scully said, “And so do I. But Mulder?”
He said, “Hm?”
And they both looked at each other. In that moment, all time seemed to stand still. Nothing else mattered.
I love you so much, Scully thought.
I love you so much, Mulder thought.
Scully spoke again before she wholly lost her train of thought altogether. “Merry Christmas.”
“Oh.” Mulder turned to mush when Scully curled up against him again. “Hey. Merry Christmas.”
I love you so much, thought Mulder.
I love you so much, thought Scully.
The movie on the television screen ended. A new picture started. This time it was the Peanuts Christmas television special. Perfect. Mulder even switched the volume back on.
Briefly, Mulder then imagined a cozy Christmas with Scully and their children, many more years from now. They’d be cozy at their house. Along with all three of their children, one boy and two girls, they would all be watching this program together. Outside? There would be another epic blizzard. Not to be left out? The precious Jack Russell Terrier. He would be curled up in Scully’s lap, snoring delicately so. Even that seemed like utter perfection.
And Scully? Well… She imagined the exact same thing.