Hanukkah

AUTHOR: bcfan

SPOILERS: 310 words, post Kaddish

***

Scully spotted it on a dusty shelf at a gas station QuikiMart, propped next to boxes of tinsel and faded red and green ornaments. A quick decision later, the miniature menorah was tucked into her plastic bag with sunflower seeds and a lottery ticket promising 38 million dollars.

Mulder looked surprised as he examined her offering.

"For good luck," she murmured.

One hand on the wheel, Mulder smirked and pulled out the ticket. "My luck is already changing. I sense big money and Chinese take-out in my future. Care to join me?"

Scully nodded - then reflected on a past case as they drove. It was the little things. Mulder's deference to the scholar who had assisted them. His automatic reach for a yarmulke before stopping himself, when they entered the sanctuary.

She hoped her impulsive purchase would ease the way for a man reluctant to talk about this possible part of his past.

When Mulder ushered her into his apartment, Scully smiled as he set the menorah on his window ledge and carefully lit the thin white candles. They cast a friendly glow against the inky sky.

Mulder leaned the lottery ticket against his fish tank and turned. "Thanks for the gifts. I haven't celebrated Hanukkah since I was three years old."

"Why not, Mulder?"

"My grandmother died, and that part of my life," he waved his hand vaguely, "just seemed to be over. It's surprising I can remember anything about it at all."

"Would you like to do something else for Hanukkah?"

"Nah - I'm a multicultural kind of guy. Jian bing with soy sauce is better than latkes with applesauce any day of the week. And," he added quietly, "having you here is great."

Scully gave Mulder's arm a brief squeeze. Their rare sense of shared peace was more than enough cause for celebration.

Happy Hanukkah indeed.


***

Written for the XOK Festive Season Fic Challenge. Elements included:

- 310 words
- reference to a holiday
- reference to an episode
- red, white and green
- take-out food
- fish
- soy